The Elbow

Loose Body in the Elbow

A 'loose body' of the elbow is a clinical diagnosis.
A displaced fragment of articular cartilage (with or without a bony nucleus) jams the joint and prevents full and painless movement in the joint.
This situation is called an 'internal derangement' in the joint.

The patient describes sudden 'twinges', at irregular intervals, together with attacks of sudden fixation of the joint, either in flexion or in extension.

Clinical examination shows:

a non-capsular pattern: disproportionate limitation of the passive movements
a 'springy' endfeel indicates internal derangement

Loose bodies may exist in three different clinical situations:

Loose body in adolescence

Loose body in a normal joint in adulthood
Loose body in an arthrotic joint