terrible triad

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.

(1) Injury to the knee with tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, tibial collateral ligament, and medial meniscus
(2) Injury to the elbow consisting of radial head fracture, coronoid fracture, and elbow dislocation, which may be accompanied by extensor or flexor origin avulsions and osteochondral injuries to the capitellum or trochlea
Clinical findings Obvious deformity, pain and swelling Management Treat coronoid fracture, then radial head fracture, finally repair ligaments and tendons

terrible triad

A colloquial term for a dislocation of the elbow accompanied by fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna and of the radial head. The injury produces an unstable joint.