Fracture of the elbow: diagnosis and treatment

The discussion of fracture of the elbow on this page will be limited to fractures of the lower end of the bones of the humerus in adults. Other fractures that involve bones forming the elbow joint can be seen by clicking on the links following-

Fracture meet
Radial Head fracture

Before going further with elbow fracture, it is important to know the subject the lower end of the humerus bone. This part of the humerus is flattened like a spatula and consists of following structures

the lateral condyle external sidethe medial condyle on the inside

The medial condyle is the trochlea which articulates with the ulna bone and the lateral condyle has the capitulated who articulated with RADIUS bone. As you can see in the photograph that the posterior or beneath the surface of the humerus bone is relatively flat from which this is the place which is used to apply patches and screws for the stabilization of these fractures.

See also the page on the anatomy of the elbow for a better understanding of these fractures.

Young people these fractures are caused by the wounds of high energy such as traffic accidents while in the elderly, they are considered after injuries of low energy such that drag on the ground.

Fracture of the elbowsymptoms include the following

elbow pain around the regionswellinginability to move jointdeformity around the elbow elbow

The movements of the wrist and fingers will continue until there are some injuries to blood vessels and nerves. In my country, I have seen many patients come later after a fractured elbow or shoulder thinking that since they can move their fingers so that they do not have a fracture and the injury is only a sprain.

Diagnosis of fracture of the elbow is x-ray examination of the elbow joint. A scanner can also be necessary to evaluate the profile of fracture in fragmentary fractures multi.

These fractures can be broadly classified into three categories

Extra-articular fractures where the fracture line does not extend to jointPartial-articular fractures elbow in which the fracture line extends to the elbow joint and a condyle remains attached to fractures of humerus in which boneComplete-articular fracture line extends to the elbow joint, and the two condyles are separated from the remaining humerus bone

Each of the above types can be of two types of more

Without or line of hair in which the fracture of the fragments have not separated from each otherDisplaced in which the fragments are far from each other

Treatment of this fracture depends on following factors

Classification of the fractureage of patientyoungoldfunctional the requirements of the stylesedentary of life patientactive and lifepresence depending on other diseases such as stroke, heart failure, diabetes, etc.

Without travel or hair line fracture can be treated by simple support of cast or splint for 3 to 4 weeks after which physiotherapy is started to bring the movement in the joint of the elbow as soon as possible.

Displaced in active young adults fractures are treated by surgery. In surgery, fracture is exposed by an incision and the fragments are aligned. These fragments are then held rigid by the help of plates and screws. Screw the plate build should be so solid and stable to allow an active movement in the period post operative. This approach is also used in the elderly which are suitable for surgery.

A fracture of the elbow in sedentary and burden of the elderly or those who suffer from diseases such as disease, heart failure that make them unfit surgically are treated by

a short period of rest in a splint or sling for a few dayspain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the pain and swellingphysiotherapy is started in a few days to maintain the mobility with non-union fracture worry

The objective of this treatment is to return as much painless elbow joint as possible movement.

Older patients with arthritis of the joint of the elbow or with multi-fragmentary fractures which may not be adequately stabilized by plates and screws are included for the replacement surgery total elbow.

This is an x-ray of a patient treated for fractures of the elbow with plates and screws.

Complications include

NonUnion or the inability of the healMal-union fracture or healing of the fracture in a bad positionLoss of injuryInfectionIrritation of movementNerve of elbow caused by plates, screws and wires placed under the skin.

Lasts how long the fracture to heal?

The fracture heals generally from 6 to 8 weeks.

How can prevent the loss of movement of elbow?

Loss of movement of elbow can be prevented by early physiotherapy and active after rigid stabilization of the fracture of the elbow.

I hope that the above information has been useful. If you have any query you can ask me to contact me page.

This page was created on November 2, 2010

Other fractures and dislocation of the elbow in adults region...

Fracture meet

Radial Head fracture

Dislocation of the elbow

Other fractures of the elbow in children region...

Supracondylar fracture

Lateral Condyle fracture

Other causes of pain elbow...

Tennis Elbow

Golfers elbow

Meet bursitis

Extracted from elbow

Little League elbow

Rewind Fracture of the elbow to elbow pain

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