Elbow injuries of javelin-throwers
Waris, W.
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica 93(6): 563-575
1946
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5482 PMID: 20985462 Document Number: 12378
The subjects of my study were 17 selected javelin-throwers (average record, 70.29 metres) the examination of whose elbows revealed the following: 1. During the first year of competition, the elbow of the throwing arm had in every case become so painful that the subject was compelled to give up this sport for a period varying from a few weeks to one year. The injury recurred after two or three years. Finally, in most cases the elbow became so insensitive after repeated injuries that the subject was able to stand all the strain caused by throwing without pain. 2. The clinical changes in the elbow are very slight. 3. Fourteen out of seventeen of the subjects showed roentgenologic changes. The majority of these consists of the changes of the tip of the olecranon (11 cases). These form a series of fractures of different stages of the olecranon and ruptures of its tip: a) a complete fracture of the olecranon, which has healed into a dislocated position. b) the rupture of the triangular tip of the olecranon (2 cases). c) a free calcium shadow blot at the tip of the olecranon (4 cases). d) rough, irregular outline of the tip (5 cases). One case showed a bone-like area of calcification beside the median condyle. Intrα-articular changes were not seen in any case. 4. When the elbow is suddenly straightened during the last stage of javelin-throwing, the tip of the olecranon strikes its fossa and stops the extension movement. This violent blow is no doubt the cause of the changes in the olecranon. The calcifications near the medial epicondyle undoubtedly represent the subsequent scar formations of the ruptures of the medial collateral ligaments and capsules. The changes found in the elbow were all extrα-articular aftereffects of a definite trauma, and no changes resembling those mentioned in BAETZNER'S arthritis deformans theory could be found.
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