The ligament that supports the outside of the elbow is the
radial collateral ligament.
Inability to perform a chair rise test in which the patient is asked to raise his or her body from an armless chair using his or her hands is another positive sign indicating a tear of the
radial collateral ligament.
Both the
radial collateral ligament and lateral ulnar collateral ligament play important roles in preventing posterolateral rotational instability and either, or both, may be torn with this clinical presentation.
The
radial collateral ligament originates from the lateral epicondyle and terminates indistinguishably in the annular ligament, which stabilizes the proximal radioulnar joint (Fig.
Overly aggressive surgical procedures, such as common extensor tendon release or radial head resection, can also lead to
radial collateral ligament injury.
It originates at the lateral epicondyle with the
radial collateral ligament and inserts at the supinator crest of the ulna.
