Common extensor tendinopathy (tennis elbow) and its partial tears, distal biceps rupture with the retraction that decides repair, and the ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing athlete.
Orient first
- Lateral epicondylitis is a degenerative tendinosis of the ECRB origin.
- Distal biceps complete rupture: retraction depends on an intact lacertus fibrosus.
- UCL anterior bundle tears in throwers — the T-sign is a partial undersurface tear.
Acquire the study
- Axial, coronal and sagittal PD fat-saturated; FABS (flexed, abducted, supinated) view for the biceps.
The manoeuvre
- Coronal PD fat-saturated: common extensor origin thickening and signal; partial vs full-thickness tear.
- FABS or sagittal: distal biceps insertion on the radial tuberosity; retraction distance in cm.
- Coronal: UCL anterior bundle — T-sign, complete tear.
- Olecranon and capitellum marrow oedema; loose bodies.
What confirms it
- Tendon or ligament discontinuity with fluid in the gap.
What licenses you to exclude it
- Normal tendon thickness and signal exclude significant tendinopathy.
The classic misread
- Magic angle in the common extensor tendon called tendinosis on short-TE sequences.