Surgical Anatomy and Portal Placement

The elbow joint is formed by the distal articular surface of the humerus, the proximal ulna, and the radial head. Functionally, the elbow can be divided into three joints: the ulnohumeral joint, the radiocapitellar joint, and the proximal radioulnar joint. These three joints share a common synovial cavity, encapsulated within a single joint capsule. The anterior and posterior regions of the elbow are covered by a relatively simple joint capsule, while the medial and lateral sides are reinforced by the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The elbow joint is surrounded by several important nerves and blood vessels increasing the risk of neurovascular injury during arthroscopy compared to other joints. The primary consideration when developing arthroscopic portals is find safe entry points that minimize the risk of damaging these neurovascular structures.