The proximal anteromedial portal is made 2 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle and 1–2 cm anterior to the intermuscular septum. A nick in the skin is made, and the blunt tip trocar is advanced to the anterior surface of the humerus. The trocar is kept in contact with the anterior cortex and then slid distally to the elbow joint. This technique keeps the trocar posterior to the brachialis muscle therefore protecting the median nerve and brachial artery. Blunt dissection stays anterior to the medial intermuscular septum and thus anterior to the ulnar nerve. Structures at risk during creation of this portal are the medial antebrachial cutaneous, median, and ulnar nerves. The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve is at risk as it courses approximately 2.3 mm from the portal site. The median nerve is at risk as the trocar is advanced distally between the humerus and brachialis muscle. The average distance from the median nerve to the trocar tip is 12.4–22 mm [22, 27].

Relative contraindications to the creation of this portal include ulnar nerve subluxation or previous ulnar nerve transposition [22, 27, 28]. In the case of prior ulnar nerve transposition, this portal can be utilized if care is taken to identify the course of the nerve with dissection prior to trocar placement. In the absence of ulnar nerve subluxation or history of transposition, the ulnar nerve is located between 12 and 23.7 mm from the portal site and is hence not at risk so long as the trocar entry site is placed anterior to the intermuscular septum [22, 27].

This portal is easily reproducible and provides visualization of the entire anterior compartment from the medial to the lateral gutter. As such, it serves well as the initial portal in elbow arthroscopy.

This portal is placed 1–2 cm anterior and 2 cm distal to the medial epicondyle [29]. A nick in the skin is made, and the blunt tip trocar is advanced through the flexor mass aiming for the radial head taking care to stay between the humerus and the brachialis. With the trocar anterior to the medial epicondyle and the ulnar nerve in its normal anatomic position, the ulnar nerve should not be at risk. The greatest risk is to the medial antebrachial cutaneous which passes 1–2 mm from the portal site [22]. Risk of injury can be minimized by incising skin only and using the blunt trocar for the subcutaneous dissection [25, 27]. The median nerve travels approximately 7–14 mm away from the portal site and is at less risk of injury if the surgeon maintains dissection posterior to brachialis [22, 30]. The standard anteromedial portal is therefore almost twice as close to the median nerve as the proximal anteromedial portal determined by the difference between the anatomical measurements mentioned above, 7–14 mm away from the portal in standard anteromedial portal versus 12–23.7 mm away from the portal in the proximal anteromedial portal. The proximal anteromedial portal presents a safer alternative to standard anteromedial portal therefore minimizing the risk of a devastating median nerve injury.

The proximal anterolateral portal in addition to the proximal anteromedial portal can also be used as a starting portal [9, 31, 32]. It is established 2 cm proximal and 2 cm anterior to the lateral epicondyle. This portal was developed as an alternative to the standard anterolateral portal, due to the portal providing greater safe distance from the radial nerve [22, 31]. Anatomic studies with the elbow in 90° of flexion and distended with fluid at the time of proximal anterolateral portal creation reveal a safe distance between 9.9 and 14.2 mm between the trocar and radial nerve [22, 31]. This distance is markedly decreased to 4.9–9.1 mm when the standard anterolateral portal is created [22, 31]. The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve passes 6 mm from this portal site [22].

As the trocar is advanced distally, toward the elbow joint, the brachioradialis and brachialis muscle are pierced prior to entering the lateral joint capsule. With the arthroscope placed into the cannula, the anterior capsule, lateral gutter, radial head, capitellum, coronoid, and anterolateral aspect of the ulnohumeral articulation can be visualized. It is believed by some authors that the proximal anterolateral portal provides improved visualization of the lateral aspect of the joint [31].

The anterolateral portal was originally described as being made 1 cm anterior and 3 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle [18]. As the blunt trocar is introduced, it passes through the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle before traversing the lateral joint capsule. This portal position is limited in its capabilities with respect to the lateral joint. However, it permits visualization of the anteromedial aspect of the joint including the trochlea, coronoid fossa, coronoid process, and medial aspect of the radial head [31]. Care must be taken not to place the portal distal to the radial head, as the posterior interosseous nerve courses 1–1.5 cm from the radial head around the radial neck. Furthermore, care should be taken not to make the portal distal to the radial head as this can endanger the radial nerve. The radial nerve passes 5–9 mm from this portal site [22, 27, 28].

An inside-out technique allows the arthroscope in the anteromedial or proximal anteromedial portal to be advanced over the radial head and pressed firmly against the joint capsule lateral to the radial head. The camera is exchanged in the cannula for a switching stick which is advanced through the extensor carpi radialis brevis until it tents the skin. Incision is made over the switching stick, and cannula is inserted over the switching stick. This portal provides good access to the radial head and allows visualization of the annular ligament.

Also known as the soft spot portal, this portal is often used for the initial insufflation of the joint with an 18-gauge needle. It is found in the soft spot in the triangle marked by the lateral epicondyle, radial head, and tip of the olecranon. This portal is fairly safe with regard to neurologic structures with the sole risk being injury to the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve which courses approximately 7 mm away [33]. The biggest risks of this portal are the risk of fluid extravasation into the soft tissues and postoperative portal drainage [22, 23, 28].

When establishing this portal, the trocar is advanced through the anconeus muscle, and entry to the lateral elbow joint is attained through the posterior elbow capsule. Visualization of the radioulnar joint and inferior aspect of the radial head and capitellum can be achieved through this portal site. In addition, this portal provides a safe entry site for instrumentation of the radiocapitellar joint and lateral gutter. Due to the risk of soft tissue extravasation, it is advisable to delay making this portal until near the end of the operation.