Posterolateral rotatory instability

 

Posterolateral rotatory Instabilitypivot shift

 

Definition

 

Dynamic posterior instability of the radial head relative to the capitellum in flexion

Secondary to injury to the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) complex

 

Anatomy LCL complex

 

LCL Elbow

 

Four components

 

Need injury to lateral UCL and radial collateral ligament for instability to occur

Lateral Ulna Collateral Ligament Radial Collateral Ligament Accessory Collateral Ligament Annular ligament

Lateral epicondyle to supinator crest

Lateral epicondyle to annular ligament Lateral epicondyle to annular ligament and supinator crest Anterior and posterior sigmoid notch
Most important     

 

 

Etiology

 

Trauma 

- elbow dislocation

- LCL complex fails to heal

 

Iatrogenic - tennis elbow release / Kocher approach

Ligamentous laxity

Cubitus varus

 

History

 

Lateral elbow pain

Clicking

Instability

 

Examination

 

Combine external rotation / supination with valgus and axial loading

 

Pivot Shift Test  

 

Patient supine with hand over head

- examiner at head of bed

- elbow fully extended and forearm supinated

- elbow resembles knee in this position

 

Valgus stress with axial load & slowly flex elbow

- at 30 - 45o the radial head subluxes posterolaterally

- patient feels apprehension / pain

- reduces as the elbow flexes more

 

pivot shift

 

Table top test  

 

Push up on table with forearms in supination

- in flexion the radial head subluxes

- patient has apprehension and pain

 

Pain and apprehension relieved by anterior pressure on radial head
table top table toptable top

 

MRI

 

Normal

 

LCLnormal

 

PRLI

 

PRLIPRLI

Subtle instability of the radiocapitellar joint

 

Nonoperative management

 

Ineffective

 

Operative management

 

Options

 

1. Repair +/- internal brace

 

2. Reconstruction with graft - open versus arthroscopic

 

Graft reconstruction

 

Graft choices

 

Palmaris longus - present 85% / press thumb and finger together

Gracilis / semitendinosis - autograft or allograft

Triceps tendon autograft

 

Vumedi 2 incision palmaris longus harvest technique video

 

PLPL

 

Approach

 

Kocher approach - between anconeus and ECU

 

Open Technique

 

Vumedi LCL reconstruction docking technique epicondyle with transverse tunnel ulna video

 

Arthrex LCL reconstruction with docking technique ulna and epicondyle video

 

Arthroscopy techniques LCL reconstruction PDF

 

Distal tunnel

- supinator crest ulna - level of annular ligament

- docking technique with suture anchor

- transverse tunnel

 

Proximal tunnel

- lateral epicondyle at isometric point - can use flouroscopy

- typically docking as insufficient bone for transverse tunnel

 

Tension with elbow at 30 - 40o of flexion

 

Arthroscopic technique

 

Arthroscopy techniques arthroscopic LCL reconstruction PDF

 

Results

 

Repair versus reconstruction

 

Kholinne et al OJSM 2025

- systematic review of repair v reconstruction for chronic PRLI

- 20 studies and 600 patients

- superior return to activity with reconstruction

- complication reconstruction: 8%

- complication repair: 15%

 

Outcomes reconstruction

 

Badhrinarayanan et al AJSM 2021

- systematic review of 17 studies and 168 patients with chronic PRLI

- 86% treated with docking technique

- recurrent instability 15%

- 93% functional ROM