Rarely occurs alone, but usually in combination with a radial head fracture, elbow dislocation or both.
Large fractures may be associated with instability of the elbow, even after repair.
Occurs in only 1-2% of elbow fractures and in 10-15% of elbow dislocations.
Large fractures have more complications and instability than do less significant injuries.
Fractures probably a result of shear forces when the trochlea pushes off the coronoid.
The coronoid acts as the anterior buttress of the greater sigmoid notch of the ulna.