Elbow Fracture

About Fractures

There are many fracture patterns which can effect the elbow. Typical fractures involve the olecranon process, radial head, humeral condyles and distal humerus. Nondisplaced fractures can be treated in a long arm cast with immobilization of the elbow. Displaced or unstable fractures of the elbow require surgical treatment.

The Procedure

The surgical procedure involves piecing back
together the broken fragments of bone in a way that resotores the normal skeletal anatomy and also restores the normally smooth and congruent joint surfaces. Once the pieces are appropriately position metal implants are applied for the purpose of holding the reduced fragments together rigidly in a fixed position. This ‘rigid fication’ of the bone allows for rapid healing and also for the introduction of motion during the healing phase for the purpose of preventing joint stiffness and muscle atrophy.