Dr. Ebraheim’s educational animated video describes the carrying angle of the elbow.
The carrying angle of the elbow is the clinical measurement of varus- valgus angulation of the arm with the elbow fully extended and the forearm fully supinated.
With the arms extended at the sides and the palms facing forward, the forearm and hands are normally slightly away from the body.
The intersection of the axix of the upper arm and the axis of the forearm defines the carrying angle.
The shorter the forearm bone length is, the greater the carrying angle will be.
The normal carrying angle of the elbow is 5° to 15°.
The carrying angle is more in women than in men.
The carrying angle is greater in throwing athletes.
It is difficult to assess if there is a flexion contracture of the elbow.
This angle permits the forearm to clear the hips in swinging movements during walking, and is important when carrying objects.
Cubitus varus is the opposite of cubitus valgus, causing the elbow to have inward angulation towards the midline of the body.
Cubitus valgus is a deformity which causes the forearm when it is fully extended to be angled away from the body is a greater degree than normal.
Supracondylar fracture usually occurs in children.
If the fracture is mal aligned and if it heals in a mal aligned position, the fracture may develop into a severe varus deformity of the elbow which decreases the carrying angle, and causes the elbow to have more of an inward angulation towards the midline of the body, this creates what is called a “gunstock deformity”.
The deformity is caused by fracture malunion, this is usually a cosmetic deformity with little functional limitation.
Fracture of the lateral condyle of the humerus can lead to:
1- Cubitus valgus.
2- Stretching of the ulnar nerve.
If the fracture didn’t heal or the fracture is mal aligned:
The medial part of the humerus will grow and the lateral part will not grow, the forearm will drift into valgus mal-alignment.
The carrying angle will increase (cubitus valgus), and the ulnar nerve will be stretched and may need transposition.
The nonunion of the lateral condyle of the humerus may need fixation inorder to stop progression of the valgus deformity.
30° of varus or valgus is tolerated in fracture of the humerus without any clinical functional significance.
The carrying angle of the elbow is the clinical measurement of varus- valgus angulation of the arm with the elbow fully extended and the forearm fully supinated.
With the arms extended at the sides and the palms facing forward, the forearm and hands are normally slightly away from the body.
The intersection of the axix of the upper arm and the axis of the forearm defines the carrying angle.
The shorter the forearm bone length is, the greater the carrying angle will be.
The normal carrying angle of the elbow is 5° to 15°.
The carrying angle is more in women than in men.
The carrying angle is greater in throwing athletes.
It is difficult to assess if there is a flexion contracture of the elbow.
This angle permits the forearm to clear the hips in swinging movements during walking, and is important when carrying objects.
Cubitus varus is the opposite of cubitus valgus, causing the elbow to have inward angulation towards the midline of the body.
Cubitus valgus is a deformity which causes the forearm when it is fully extended to be angled away from the body is a greater degree than normal.
Supracondylar fracture usually occurs in children.
If the fracture is mal aligned and if it heals in a mal aligned position, the fracture may develop into a severe varus deformity of the elbow which decreases the carrying angle, and causes the elbow to have more of an inward angulation towards the midline of the body, this creates what is called a “gunstock deformity”.
The deformity is caused by fracture malunion, this is usually a cosmetic deformity with little functional limitation.
Fracture of the lateral condyle of the humerus can lead to:
1- Cubitus valgus.
2- Stretching of the ulnar nerve.
If the fracture didn’t heal or the fracture is mal aligned:
The medial part of the humerus will grow and the lateral part will not grow, the forearm will drift into valgus mal-alignment.
The carrying angle will increase (cubitus valgus), and the ulnar nerve will be stretched and may need transposition.
The nonunion of the lateral condyle of the humerus may need fixation inorder to stop progression of the valgus deformity.
30° of varus or valgus is tolerated in fracture of the humerus without any clinical functional significance.
Become a friend on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/drebraheim
Follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/DrEbraheim_UTMC