Elbow Fracture | Diagnosis & Treatments

Recovering from an Elbow Fracture

You can get a broken elbow from things such as attempting to break a fall, receiving a direct strike to the arm, or being in a car accident. A fractured elbow is a break in one or more of the bones that comprise the elbow joint: the humerus (upper arm bone), ulna (large lower arm bone), and radius (small lower arm bone).

A fracture is classified according to its severity and complexity. The treatment and recovery period will depend on the severity of the elbow fracture.

In most cases, the doctor will place your arm in a cast or in a splint supported by a sling. The recovery period can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Pain During Elbow Fracture Recovery

Unlike broken bones in other areas of the body, pain is a big concern during elbow fracture recovery. The pain can last for weeks.

Applying ice to the area and taking the prescribed medication can help relieve the pain during your recovery. It is also recommended that you keep your elbow elevated in order to prevent swelling.

Physical Therapy When Recovering from a Broken Elbow

A critical part of recovery is physical therapy and rehabilitation of the elbow joint and indeed the entire arm. Physical therapy exercises and stretches will help to prevent stiffness, increase muscle strength, improve flexibility, and regain range of motion. Your physical therapist will show you how to boost circulation, improve healing, and reduce pain in the entire elbow area.

Therefore, patients who receive medical treatment for an elbow fracture will likely be recommended to undergo physical therapy as a key part of their rehabilitation. It is important that you continue to do the physical therapy exercises until your elbow and arm are fully recovered.

Avoid pushing, pulling, and lifting anything for at least six weeks. If in doubt about any activity potentially harming your broken elbow, be sure to check with your doctor.

The doctor will provide specific instructions for a successful recovery from your elbow fracture. Each patient recovers at their own pace, but it will be best to have the doctor check your fracture periodically in order to ensure that it is healing properly.

Sports Medicine Doctor in San Antonio, TX

Orthopedic doctors who have specialized training in sports medicine can help you prevent elbow fractures – and to treat them effectively when they do happen. The orthopedist will ensure that your elbow heals in such a way as to avoid the risk of developing post-traumatic arthritis, which can cause chronic pain in the arm.

Our physicians at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine can provide a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of your elbow injury. Our sports medicine team of Dr. Raymond Skunda and Dr. Geoffrey Millican are highly experienced in the latest advancements in surgical techniques and treatment options for elbow fractures, and our goal is to get you back to enjoying your regular activities as quickly as possible.

To request an appointment, call our friendly staff today at (210) 692-7400 or fill out our convenient online form. We look forward to seeing you!

Osteosynthesis of the olecranon – surgery for a fracture of the elbow, prices in St.

Petersburg

Prices Doctors Our centers joint, functional activity of the limb. During osteosynthesis, bone fragments are fixed in place using various metal structures – knitting needles, plates, bolts. Such interventions are not performed for all people with fractures of the ulna, but only in case of complicated, both open and closed fractures, in which there is separation and displacement bone fragments.

Benefits of elbow osteosynthesis

This is the most common method of radical treatment of fractures and joint injuries in the elbow area. The advantage of this method is that, due to osteosynthesis, it is possible to combine bone fragments that cannot be correctly positioned with conservative tactics due to the development of diastasis between the fragments. With traditional methods, there are difficulties with correct reposition, joint deformities are possible, and there is a risk of re-displacement of fragments.

The technique has been used successfully for a long time, has a low risk of complications, helps to return to activity in the next few days after surgery (within reasonable limits) and allows you to do without uncomfortable plaster casts. However, to fully restore joint activity, full rehabilitation is required in compliance with all doctor’s recommendations.

Indications for osteosynthesis of the olecranon

Usually, fractures of the ulna in the area of ​​its process occur after direct injuries: falls on the elbow, blows to it, traffic accidents or accidents. Often, fractures can be accompanied by trauma to the radius, damage to the joint, which complicates the situation. An isolated fracture of one of the bones without displacement can be treated conservatively, in other cases, the doctor chooses the tactics of surgical correction, especially when it comes to the olecranon and fractures in the joint area.

For osteosynthesis of the ulna, which has an oblique or transverse direction, various types of plates with screws (compressive, lockable) or other techniques are used. In each case, the doctor determines the indications for the use of certain methods.

Key indications for osteosynthesis of the olecranon:

• open or closed fractures with one or more displaced fragments;
• complicated types of fractures;
• intra-articular fractures;
• combined lesions of the olecranon and radius.

The doctor can determine additional indications for a certain type of surgery after a detailed examination.

Contraindications

Before performing the intervention, it is necessary to exclude a number of contraindications to osteosynthesis. Among the key ones are:

• state of shock or coma, profuse blood loss, DIC;
• acute infectious or inflammatory processes, fever of unknown origin;
• exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
• blood clotting problems;
• skin lesions, extensive crushed wounds over the fracture zone;
• severe osteoporosis of bones.

The doctor can also determine a number of temporary contraindications, including the type of anesthesia used.

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Take advantage of this unique opportunity to receive a free consultation for elective surgery.

Preparation

In order to perform the operation, it is necessary to perform a full diagnosis and clarify the type and nature of the fracture, associated complications. It is necessary to do all blood and urine tests, ECG, consult a general practitioner and an anesthesiologist. You also need an x-ray in several projections, and in difficult cases – a CT scan of the affected area. The operation is done on an empty stomach, under general anesthesia, less often – with the use of local anesthesia (conduction anesthesia).

How is the operation of osteosynthesis of the ulna with a plate

During the operation, the patient is placed on the stomach or on the back, the limb is placed on the chest area or an additional table. The doctor makes an incision in the region of the posterior surface of the elbow joint, slightly bypassing the region of the olecranon. The skin is exfoliated, the soft tissues are moved apart, the ulnar nerve is isolated and also pushed back so as not to damage it.

The doctor removes all bone fragments, connects them in the correct anatomical position, fixing them with hooks or forceps. If plates are used for fixation, then the metal structure is attached with screws to bone fragments. If pins are used, they are passed through two adjacent fragments, and the ends of the protruding pins are tightly fixed with wire loops, which are laid in eights and tightened as much as possible to ensure complete compression of the bone fragments. Then the soft tissues are placed in the right place, the skin is sutured, the wound is drained, covered with a sterile bandage.

Rehabilitation period

In order for the recovery to be as quick and complete as possible, it is necessary to follow a number of doctor’s recommendations after the operation. Immediately after the procedure is completed, the operated patient’s hand is placed on a pillow, taken aside. No immobilization with plaster is used. Drainages can be removed from the wound after two days. After examining the doctor, the patient is recommended to exercise therapy, but without bending the limb in the elbow joint. The doctor controls the movements, shows the necessary exercises. After removing the sutures for 10-14 days, movements with the whole arm are allowed – active and passive in the joint area. X-ray control is periodically carried out to assess the condition of the bone tissue. Heavy and forced loads are limited for a period of at least three months.

The clinic performs all types of osteosynthesis in the area of ​​the elbow joint. Experienced traumatologists will help with fresh and even chronic trauma by developing an individual course of treatment. It is possible to undergo all stages of treatment in the clinic, including a course of rehabilitation. To make an appointment for a consultation and clarify the details, you can use the call center phone number or the form on the website.

* You can find out more about the conditions here – Treatment on credit or installments

Preliminary cost. The exact cost of the operation can only be determined by the surgeon during a free consultation.

Specialists in this field 27 doctors

Leading doctors 8 doctors

Giniyatov Anvar Rinatovich

Sports doctor, orthopedic traumatologist. Traumatologist of the volleyball club “Zenith”

Work experience: 8 years

Danaisky, 47

Dunayskaya metro station

Make an appointment

Igor Kozlov

Orthopedic traumatologist

Work experience: 5 years

900 02 Marshala Zakharova, 20

metro station Leninsky pr-t

Vyborgskoe highway , 17

m.

m. Danube

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Skulkin Andrey Valerievich

Orthopedic traumatologist

Work experience: 31 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

metro Prospekt Prosveshcheniya

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Belousov Evgeny Ivanovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 33 years

Udarnikov, 19

Ladozhskaya metro station

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Sergey Ivanovich Urbanovich

Traumatologist, burn surgeon

Work experience: 12 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

Prosveshcheniya metro station

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Alexey Danilkin

Traumatologist, pediatric surgeon 9000 3

Work experience: 15 years

Udarnikov, 19

m Ladozhskaya

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Garifulin Marat Sagitovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 19 years

Dunaisky, 47

Duna

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Other doctors 19 doctors

Angelcheva Tatyana Avramovna

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 8 years

Dybenko, 13k4

m. 120
Antonov Ilya Alexandrovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 9 years

Marshala Zakharova, 20

metro station Leninsky pr-t

Make an appointment

Borisova Olga Mikhailovna

Pediatric surgeon

Work experience: 16 years

Dunaysky, 47

Dunayskaya metro station

Make an appointment

Gvozdev Maxim Alexandrovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 11 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

Prospekt Prosveshcheniya metro station

Make an appointment

Grebenyuk Mikhail Viktorovich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Work experience: 18 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

Prospekt Prosveshcheniya metro station

Make an appointment

Drakh Elvis Kvaku

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 7 years

Vyborg highway, 17

Prospekt Prosveshcheniya metro station

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Ezhovsky Vyacheslav Yurievich

Traumatologist-orthopedist. Doctor of the highest category.

Work experience: 23 years

Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

Kupchino metro station

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Islamov Magomedgadzhi Magomedkhabibovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 7 years
Karapetyan Sergey Vazgenovich

Orthopedist-traumatologist, podologist

Work experience: 15 years

Dunaisky, 47

Dunaiskaya metro station

Malaya Balkanskaya 23

Kupchino metro station

Make an appointment

Kikaev Adlan Olkhozurovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 9 years

Udarnikov, 19

Ladozhskaya metro station

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Kovalenko-Klychkova Nadezhda Alexandrovna

Traumatologist-orthopedist. Operating pediatric orthopedist. Doctor of the first category. Candidate of Medical Sciences.

Work experience: 13 years

Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

Kupchino metro station

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Kolyadin Maxim Alexandrovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 15 years

Make an appointment

Kustikov Anton Aleksandrovich

Traumatologist, pediatric surgeon

Work experience: 7 years

Marshala Zakharova, 20

Leninsky Prospect metro station

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Mitin Andrey Viktorovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist, pediatric surgeon, pediatric surgeon-urologist

Work experience: 24 years
Mikhailov Alexander Pavlovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 5 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

metro Prosveshcheniya

Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

metro Kupchino

Make an appointment

Panfilov Artyom Igorevich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 10 years

Marshala Zakharova, 20

Leninsky Prospect metro station

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Petrov Artem Viktorovich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Work experience: 10 years

Dunaysky, 47

Dunayskaya metro station

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Polukhin Alexey Alekseevich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Work experience: 4 years

Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

Kupchino metro station

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Popov Evgeniy Sergeevich

Work experience: 22 years

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17

metro Prospekt Prosveshcheniya

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Our offices in St.

Petersburg

6 branches

Center for Surgery Dunayskaya metro station

47 Dunaisky prospect

Dunaiskaya metro station

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Ladozhskaya metro station

Udarnikov Avenue, 19 building 1

Ladozhskaya metro station

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Metro station “Leninsky Prospekt”

st. Marshal Zakharov, d.
daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Prospekt Prosveshcheniya metro station

Vyborgskoe shosse, 17/1

Prospect Prosveshcheniya metro station

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery m. “Kupchino”

street Malaya Balkanskaya, 23

m. Kupchino

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Center for Surgery Dybenko Street

Dybenko Street, 13k4

Dybenko Street

daily from 09:00 to 22:00

Fracture of the olecranon.

What it is?

With a sharp impact of force in the elbow area, the bone is destroyed. This type of injury accounts for about 4% of all bone fractures in the human body. Such a fracture most often occurs when falling on an arm bent at the elbow or with a strong blow to the olecranon.

What happens during an olecranon fracture?

Such a fracture in many cases is intra-articular. If there is no damage to the tendon in the region of the triceps muscle, then the broken off parts are not far away and this is hardly noticeable. In the event of a rupture of the tendon, the muscle contracts and pulls the debris along with it.

There are fractures with simultaneous dislocation of the head, called damage to Malgenya.

Symptoms of a fracture of the olecranon

• On examination, swelling of the joint and its deformation are visible
• When trying to bend the elbow, there is a restriction of movement.
• Hemorrhage is seen in the elbow area.
• On palpation of the olecranon, the patient feels pain.
• With a displaced fracture, the protruding part becomes concave.

The pain syndrome causes the patient to keep his hand in a hanging position.

Diagnosis:

The traumatologist doctor prescribes an X-ray examination to confirm the diagnosis and determine the degree of damage in the joint. X-ray is carried out in two projections. The first is the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe forearm in its upper part, and the second is the place of attachment of the muscles of the humerus. This is done in order to find out if a torn annular ligament has occurred with a displaced fracture.

Treatment:

Casting:

If the fracture is not displaced, then a plaster cast is applied to the injury site. It covers the upper part of the shoulder together with the forearm.

For loose joints, the doctor prescribes movements from the first days, and the damaged area begins to be developed after 2 weeks. To do this, the bandage is temporarily removed and careful extensions are made with a return to the previous position. Then the plaster is put in place.

In the same way, treatment occurs if there is a displacement of fragments, but insignificant. The hand is fixed in the position in which the fragments take their places. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to fully restore the bone tissue.

Surgery

If there is a strong displacement of fragments during a fracture, then surgical treatment is necessary. It is carried out if there is a distance of 2 mm or more between bone fragments or they are displaced to the side. Surgical intervention is also required for fractures with multiple fragments. After determining the type of damage, the most appropriate treatment method is selected, in which it will be possible to start movements in the injured area as early as possible. For the treatment of a fracture, osteosynthesis is used, that is, the bones are fastened with two knitting needles and titanium wire.