Medial Epicondyle of Humerus

The rounded protuberance at the end of a bone which is most often part of a joint or an attachment with another bone is called condyle. A rounded protuberance on a bone that is located upon a condyle is an epicondyle.

Medial Epicondyle of Humerus

The medial epicondyle creates a prominent, blunt protuberance on the medial side of the condyle and it, is the point where the medial border of the humerus terminates by curving marginally towards the back. Specifically in passive flexion of the elbow, it is subcutaneous and generally noticeable.

The ulnar nerve crosses the medial Epicondyle’s smooth posterior surface, which is located in a superficial sulcus as it goes into the forearm. Here, the nerve can be sensed as well as rolled beside the bone, a typical tingling sensation ensues if hit against the medial epicondyle. The connection of the superficial group of forearm flexors marks the lower portion of the anterior side of the medial epicondyle. They are entirely extracapsular; however they emerge via the epiphysis for the epicondyle.

Clinical significance

Fracture

Nearly all epicondyle fractures are represented by Medial epicondyle fractures and occur at damage of the medial epicondyle. They can be difficult to identify and are typically seen in children. Major long term disability can occur if diagnosis of these injuries fails in early stage. Medial epicondylar avulsion fractures are typically seen in children and adolescents, and are the most common cracking injury of the elbow.

Epicondyle Fracture

Mechanisms involved in medial epicondylar fractures:

• falling on an outstretched hand while the elbow is fully extended, creates sudden pull on the flexor pronator muscle group of the forearm
• Posterior elbow dislocation due to transmition of force towards the medial epicondyle via the ulnar colateral ligament, it is responsible for two thirds of cases of medial epicondylar fractures.
• In rare cases, a direct blow causes the medial epicondyle fracture.
• Little league elbow in children and golfer’s elbow in adults can also arise as chronic damage.

Golfer’s elbow

Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, appears on the inside of the elbow and is tendinosis of the medial epicondyle. Tennis elbow, which affects the outside at the lateral epicondyle, has a lot of similarity to golfer’s elbow. It is a disorder that causes pain where the tendons of forearm muscles attach to the bony protuberance at the inside elbow. The pain may spread inside forearm as well as wrist. It’s not restricted to golfers. Tennis players along with others can develop golfer’s elbow that repeatedly use their wrists or clench their fingers.