In the case of an elbow fracture, the upper end of the ulna often breaks. As a rule, a fall or an accident is the cause of an elbow fracture. In the case of an uncomplicated fracture, a plaster cast for a few weeks is sufficient to allow the elbow fracture to heal. The prognosis is then usually good. In the case of an open fracture, surgery is necessary.
In this article, you can find out how an elbow fracture specialist proceeds and where you as a patient can find help quickly and easily.
Strictly speaking, an elbow fracture is a fracture of the adjacent bones in the elbow area.
This includes fractures such as
Since such a fracture occurs acutely as a result of trauma (injury), the following symptoms often occur:
Elbow fractures affect all age groups @ Mathis /AdobeStockThe elbow joint's own mobility is also only possible to a limited extent. Depending on the severity of the fracture, the doctor may also be able to feel pieces of bone. In an open fracture, parts of the bone protrude through a wound.
If an elbow fracture remains untreated, it usually results in joint stiffness and permanent movement restrictions.
The most common cause of an elbow fracture is a fall on the arm or support during a fall. If the mechanical load on the arm is too great, the bone breaks at the weakest point. This is often in the joint area, e.g. near the elbow joint.
Other possible causes of an elbow fracture are
The doctor's first indications are the following clinical symptoms in the elbow area after a fall:
If these signs occur, an elbow fracture may be present.
The doctor will take an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis . Further examinations will show whether there is damage to muscles, ligaments and blood vessels.
As parts of the bones in the elbow area serve as tendon attachments for the arm muscles, bone fragments may be palpable.
Complicated fractures, comminuted fractures and open fractures are usually characterized by a large number of bone fragments. These are more difficult to heal. As a rule, such fractures require surgical correction and stabilization.
Before going to the doctor, you should cool and immobilize your arm to prevent further complications and damage to the elbow joint .
After the examination and diagnosis, the elbow fracture specialist will treat the fracture conservatively in most cases .
The arm is placed in a plaster cast for around six weeks to stabilize the arm. The plaster cast also helps the bones along the edge of the fracture to grow together.
It is important to note that this type of plaster cast is only used for uncomplicated elbow fractures. If there are movable bone fragments or the fracture is open, surgery is necessary. Screws, wires or small metal plates additionally reconstruct and stabilize the bone.
This procedure is performed under general anesthesia.
A plaster cast or surgery are risk factors for a stiff elbow @ photoguns /AdobeStock
In most cases, uncomplicated elbow fractures have a good healing prognosis. It is one of the most common bone fractures in humans.
Even if minor surgery is necessary, it often heals without complications.
It is somewhat more difficult if the elbow fracture is accompanied by bone splinters. These may lead to long-term consequences because the bone no longer grows together properly.
This can lead to adhesions on the bones, which promote incorrect loading and osteoarthritis.
Despite a good prognosis, it is possible that the bones are no longer as resilient as before once they have healed. Weight-bearing sports such as squash, golf or tennis may only be possible to a limited extent or not at all.
As the muscles in the arm shrink due to the plaster cast, physiotherapy is recommended once the cast has been removed. This should strengthen the muscles again.
In general, fall injuries tend to be accidental, so there is no direct prevention strategy for elbow fractures. However, you should wear elbow pads when cycling or inline skating to reduce the risk of an elbow fracture.
Elbow fracture specialists are mainly found in the field of orthopaedics and trauma surgery.
Orthopaedic and trauma surgery centers with sufficient experience are suitable for complicated elbow fractures.
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