Stabilizers of the elbow

The elbow joint is stabilized by the conforming shape of its articular surfaces, by the joint capsule and collateral ligaments, and by muscles that pass across the joint. Each of these static and dynamic stabilizers serve to keep the joint surfaces in apposition. The relative contribution of these structures to stability varies as a function of joint orientation and the extent of muscle activation. In this article our present understanding of the stabilizers of the elbow is reviewed. Important implications regarding the management of osseous and ligamentous injuries about the elbow are highlighted.