Patella cubiti: a case report and literature review

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2014 Apr;134(4):467-71. doi: 10.1007/s00402-014-1926-7. Epub 2014 Feb 4.

Abstract

Patella cubiti is a rare elbow anomaly in which either the entire olecranon or a part of it remains separate from the proximal ulna. Pain and stiffness are the usual presenting symptoms while some patients are diagnosed incidentally following a minor trauma. Our case report is of a 24-year-old male wrestler with bilateral patella cubiti which was painful on right side and asymptomatic on the left. We also mention an additional cause of pain in patella cubiti-intra-articular loose bodies. These loose bodies were removed surgically and the patient remained asymptomatic at 6-months follow-up. Presence of growth disturbance in the secondary epiphyseal centre of first lumbar vertebra supports the 'developmental theory' of origin of patella cubiti. A compilation of data available in the literature on patella cubiti has been included.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Elbow Joint / abnormalities*
  • Elbow Joint / physiopathology
  • Elbow Joint / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Olecranon Process / abnormalities*
  • Olecranon Process / surgery*
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / surgery
  • Young Adult