Overview
The elbow joint is made up of three bones: the humerus, radius, and ulna. It is held together by ligaments, a joint capsule, and is surrounded by muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels. Each bone can be susceptible to fractures at various points in the joint, especially the elderly. Some common fractures include olecranon fractures, radial head fractures, and distal humerus fractures.
Olecranon Fractures
Olecranon fractures are most commonly seen when an individual falls onto their outstretched arm or with direct impact onto the elbow. The olecranon is a triangular-shaped bone located at the tip of your elbow that makes it particularly prone to breakage as it is not covered by any major muscles.
Radial head fractures
Radial head fractures refer to damage sustained in the upper aspect of the radius bone — the outer bone that runs from your elbow to your wrist. The radius contributes to rotation of the forearm and has an intricate relationship to the other 2 bones that make up the elbow joint. When someone tries to use their arm to break a fall, they frequently sustain this kind of fracture. It could happen after a simple trip and fall or when one falls from a bicycle.
Distal Humerus Fractures
Distal humerus fractures are breaks in the lower part of the humerus — the long bone between your shoulder and elbow joint. These are fairly common in the elderly from a simple low-energy fall or when there is a high-energy injury in younger patients eg. Motorcycle injuries, fall from height.
Signs & Symptoms
It may range from mild to severe, and can include:
Pain (varying severity)
Swelling around the elbow.
Bruising
Stiffness or difficulty moving the elbow joint
Sensitivity to touch
Sense of the elbow wanting to "pop out" of its joint.
Numbness/weakness of the Hands/Fingers
Diagnosis and Treatment
An assessment at Total Orthopaedic Care & Surgery (TOCS) would involve a detailed history of symptoms, physical examination and imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment options for elbow fractures will depend on various factors such as which bone is fractured, severity of the fracture, age of patient and functional requirements.
Surgery
Surgery may be required in many cases due to the complexity of the joint and its movement; however, not all elbow fractures necessitate surgery. Non-surgical (conservative) treatments include rest, an arm sling, ice application, pain medications and physical therapy. Where appropriate, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with plates and screws may be needed or more severe cases may require a joint replacement such as radial head replacement or total elbow arthroplasty.
Conclusion
At Total Orthopaedic Care & Surgery, we have extensive experience in diagnosing and managing various elbow fractures. Our orthopaedic specialist will provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your condition and recommend the best treatment options for achieving the best possible outcome. To ensure successful recovery from an elbow fracture, it is important that you follow the instructions given by your surgeon for rehabilitation. If you are uncertain or have any concerns about elbow fractures, make an appointment at TOCS today. We look forward to helping you get back on track!
