What does an anterior fat pad sign mean?

The sail sign on an elbow radiograph, also known as the anterior fat pad sign, describes the elevation of the anterior fat pad to create a silhouette similar to a billowing spinnaker sail from a boat. It indicates the presence of an elbow joint effusion.

What is a positive fat pad sign?

Background: An elevated posterior fat pad visible on a lateral radiograph of a child’s elbow following trauma is generally considered to be suggestive of an intracapsular fracture about the elbow.

Is there a fat pad in your elbow?

The posterior fat pad sign is the visualization of a lucent crescent of fat located in the olecranon fossa on a true lateral view of an elbow joint with the elbow flexed at a right angle indicating an elbow joint effusion.

Where is the anterior fat pad located?

The anterior fat pad is located in the coronoid fossa. A narrow anterior fat pad is a normal finding on the lateral view. The anterior fat pad can be displaced up and out by fluid in the elbow joint, creating the “sail sign”.

What does fat pad mean?

A fat pad (aka haversian gland) is a mass of closely packed fat cells surrounded by fibrous tissue septa. They may be extensively supplied with capillaries and nerve endings. Examples are: Intraarticular fat pads. These are also covered by a layer of synovial cells.

Are anterior fat pads normal?

The fat pad sign is invaluable in assessing for the presence of an intra-articular fracture of the elbow. An anterior fat pad is often normal. However a posterior fat pad seen on a lateral x-ray of the elbow is always abnormal.

What is the pad on your elbow called?

Olecranon bursitis If injured or infected, it can swell and form a lump. Olecranon bursitis is also known as: baker’s elbow.

How do I fix my fat pad?

Usually, we start with simple treatments. These treatments include exercise therapy to reduce the forces on the fat pads, leg stretching to reduce tightness, and taping or bracing the knee. Other effective treatments include shoe modification or orthotics and soft tissue massage.

What causes elbow fat?

Elevation of the anterior fat pad usually heralds the presence of an intra-articular fracture. In adults, this is usually a radial head fracture whereas in children, the commonest cause of a raised elbow fat pad is a supracondylar fracture.

What is anterior fat pad?

Anterior fat pad sign: Anterior fat sign is a soft tissue disorder where refers to the elevation of the fat pad at the front of the elbow joint that can only be seen on a lateral X-ray. See detailed information below for a list of 2 causes of Anterior fat pad sign, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

What is the fat pad on the elbow?

Sail sign (elbow) It indicates the presence of an elbow joint effusion. The anterior fat pad is usually concealed within the coronoid fossa or seen paralleling the anterior humeral line. When there is a joint effusion, the anterior fat pad (which is intra-articular, but extrasynovial) becomes elevated.

What is an axillary fat pad?

Axillary Dissection. The fat of the axillary fat pad may be distinguished from subcutaneous fat on the basis of its smoother, lipomalike texture. There may be aberrant muscle slips from the latissimus dorsi or the greater pectoral muscle; in addition, there may be an extremely dense fascial encasement around the axillary fat pad.

What is anterior elbow?

The anterior ligament of the elbow is a broad and thin fibrous layer covering the anterior surface of the joint.