Elbow Fractures

Background

The elbows anatomical name is called the olecranon of the ulna, and this is the bone found on the tip of the elbow that most people injure when they are dealing with the fracture of the elbow. Most fractures occur by falling directly on the elbow, taking a direct blow to the elbow, or falling on your outstretched arms. A fracture here can cause immediate pain and will limit your use of the elbow. Many of the symptoms of an elbow fracture include: swelling over the tip of the elbow, numbness in the fingers, bruising around the elbow and is also tender to touch.

Treatment

If the fracture has not displaced any bone then a splint will be all that is necessary to heal from an elbow fracture. The splint will need to be worn for 6 weeks in order for the elbow to properly heal. If the fracture shifts at all during this time, then surgery will be needed to put the bones back together. Surgery is required when the bone fragments are out of place, then the bones will need to be repositioned and then held together by screws and metal plates.

Post-Op

In the first week the patient is placed in a splint or a cast depending on the severity of the fracture. During this week the patient will perform light rehabilitation, if in the splint, the patient will perform slight elbow extension, the main purpose of this time is to strengthen the wrist muscles as those muscles are attached near the elbow. During the second week of recovery the cast will come off to begin elbow extension as the patient looks to strengthen all the muscles in the elbow, the patient will need to be patient as the process of healing will take time. By week 3 and 4 the patient will be able to fully extend the elbow actively and transition back to performing normal everyday activities. Around weeks 8-12 the patient will be fully healed, at this time the patient can return to work and everyday activities with no limitation.