An adolescent baseball pitcher reports medial elbow pain during the late cocking phase, with tenderness over the medial epicondyle and pain on valgus stress testing. Which structure is injured?

• A Annular ligament
• B Radial (lateral) collateral ligament
• C Anterior band of the ulnar (medial) collateral ligament ✓
• D Oblique cord

Explanation

Valgus stress at the throwing elbow is resisted chiefly by the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament, which runs from the medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the coronoid process. Repetitive valgus loading causes microtrauma and partial tearing of this band. The radial collateral ligament resists varus stress, and the annular ligament holds the radial head, neither of which is under valgus tension here.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy, 42nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.