By: Nicole Parriortt, ATC
An elbow fracture is the medical term for a broken elbow. A broken elbow is when a fracture occurs in any of the three bones that make up the elbow joint. The three bones that make up the elbow joint are the humerus (upper arm bone), the radius (forearm bone on the thumb side), and the ulna (forearm bone on the small finger side). A broken elbow commonly occurs due to falls, either directly onto the point of the ulnar bone of the elbow (also called the olecranon) or by falling backward with an outstretched arm. A broken elbow may also occur due to a direct blow/trauma to the joint that is a result of a sporting injury or a motor vehicle accident.
Image of man with a broken elbow
Signs and symptoms of a broken elbow may include pain, swelling, bruising in the upper or lower arm, tender to touch, decreased ability to bend (flex), straighten (extend), or turn (supinate or pronate), and there may be a visible deformity at the elbow. Some people may also feel elbow joint instability and/or have numbness or tingling in one or more fingers.
Elbow fractures may vary depending on the severity of the injury. Fractures can be considered as a crack, chip, or split in the bone. Broken elbows can be categorized by fracture types 1-3.
Healing time for broken elbows will vary depending on the type of fracture and how it is treated, non-surgical or surgical. Broken elbows that require surgery may be fixed with different devices such as pins, screws, plates, rods or external fixation. Your surgeon will discuss the options that are best for your healing and recovery.
Your surgeon will do a physical examination and obtain x-rays to see if there is a sprained elbow, dislocated elbow, or broken bone. Sometimes, tests such as a CT scan or MRI scan may be needed to get better detail of the fracture fragments and other injuries. Ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves may also be injured with a broken elbow. These injuries may also need to be treated. Often,forearm fracturescan be classified as elbow fractures as well.
Forearm Fracture
JOI Rehab offers physical therapy for elbow pain. There are different treatments for the various sources of elbow pain. Joint mobilization, which is a hands-on technique to improve mobility of the joints, is a common way in which elbow pain is treated. Ergonomic education is important in treating elbow pain, as the source of most of the pain comes from how people grip objects.
If you want to learn more about an elbow fracture vs. break? Go to fracture vs break or the types of wrist fractures.
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