[The supinator fat pad in fractures of the elbow joint].

The position of the supinator fat pad is regarded as a valuable sign in fractures of the elbow. In our patients the pad was visible in 277 out of 337 cases (82%). The sign was positive in only 27 out of 55 proximal fractures of the radius (sensitivity 0.49). There was no correlation between the severity of the fracture and the sign. There was marked variation in the distance between the pad and the radius, depending on age, build and projection. Our results indicate that the sign is not suitable for the diagnosis of fracture of the elbow.