Elbow ossification centers

Case contributed by Andrew Murphy
Diagnosis not applicable
Annotated image


Order of elbow ossification centers: capitellum, radial head, internal (medial) epicondyle, trochlea, olecranon and external (lateral) epicondyle.

Case Discussion

The ossification centers appear at (in years) 1-3-5-7-9-11 (simple) and 1-5-7-10-10-11 (more accurate):

  • capitellum: 1 year

  • radial head: 3 years

  • internal epicondyle: 5 years

  • trochlea: 7 years

  • olecranon: 9 years

  • external epicondyle: 11 years

Cases used (with permission) from the following by Dr Andrew Dixon:

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