Elbow Injury : Fracture

Elbow fracture refers to a break in one of the three bones which comprise the elbow joint (humerus, radius, and ulna). Elbow fractures occur commonly from a blunt force injury, as seen in a motor vehicle accident or fall. Elbow fractures are common in children who fall onto their elbows. Common symptoms of elbow fractures include: swelling, pain, and inability to move the joint without extreme pain. Point tenderness over one or more of the bony prominences and deformity of the elbow joint are also indicative of a fracture. A young child will refuse to move the injured arm. Evaluation of the elbow will include an examination to document normal nerve and blood vessel status (pulses and sensation). More serious elbow fractures can cause disruption of blood flow to the hand or result in nerve damage. This may manifest as numbness in the hand or loss of motor function (movement). Bone x-rays will be necessary to confirm the existence of a fracture and guide treatment. Children under 12 will often have x-rays done of the uninjured elbow for comparison. In many cases of elbow fracture in the adult, surgical intervention is necessary.

Elbow fractures in CHILDREN often require special orthopaedic manipulation with subsequent casting. Extreme cases, involving displacement of bone fragments or angulation (bend) of the fracture site, may also require surgery. Bone healing generally requires 6 weeks of rigid immobilization (cast), followed
by physical therapy to restore normal elbow joint function. The Orthopaedic Surgeon is the expert in the treatment of elbow fractures. After cast application, the patient should be conscious of any development of increased pain in the digits, bluish discoloration of the fingertips, or numbness in the fingers or hand. All of these findings can result from a cast that is "too tight," secondary to the swelling at the fracture site. Development of these symptoms should prompt the patient to see their physician[or an Emergency Physician] IMMEDIATELY. Prescription pain medication is necessary in most cases.


12 Hip Dislocation
12 Hip Fracture
12 Insect Stings and Spider Bites
12 Human and Animal Bites
12 Shoulder Injury Fracture
12 Toxic Inhalations and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
12 Facial Injury Jaw Fracture and Dislocation
12 Kidney Injury
12 Knee Injury General Considerations
12 Knee Injury Contusion
12 Knee Injury Fracture
12 Knee Injury Sprain
12 Stab Wounds
12 Leg Injury Fractures and Contusions
12 Leg Injury Shin Splints
12 Lightning Injury
12 Oral and Tongue Injuries
12 Nasal Fracture or Contusion
12 Neck Injury General Considerations
12 Neck Injury Fracture
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Pelvic Bone Fracture
12 Puncture Wounds
12 Chest Injury Rib Fracture
12 Back Injury Sacrococcygeal Injury
12 Scorpion Bites
12 Abrasion Injuries
12 Shoulder Injury Clavicle Fracture
12 Shoulder Injury Strains and Sprains
12 Snakebite
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Abdominal Injury Ruptured Spleen
12 Foot Injury Toe Fracture and Sprain
12 Vaginal or Vulvar Injury
12 Drowning and Near Drowning

INJURIES

Abdominal Injury
Abdominal Injury: Contusion
Abrasion
Amputations
Animal Bites
Ankle Fracture
Ankle Injury
Ankle Injury: Contusion
Ankle Sprain
Back Injury
Back Injury : Sacrococcygeal Injury
Back Strain
Burns
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chemical Burns
Chest Injuries
Chest Injury: Aortic Rupture
Chest Injury: Hemothorax
Chest Injury: Myocardial Contusion
Chest Injury : Pneumothorax
Chest Injury: Pulmonary Contusion
Chronic Back Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Compression Fractures
Contusions
Decompression Sickness
Disc Disease
Gunshot Wounds
Hand Injury: Fingertip Amputations
Head Injury
Liver Injury
Marine Stings
Muscle Strains
Rib Fracture
Ruptured Spleen
Shoulder Injury: A-C Separation
Spider Bites
Spinal Cord Injury
Sternum Fracture
Testicular Injury
Wrist Injury
hi Scuba Related Injuries
 i Hand Injury Finger Amputaion
de Lecerations
de Cold Injury and Hypothermia
dd Dental Injury
xs Facial Injury
sdf Neck Injury
e Shoulder Injury Dislocation
e Ear Injury
ed Elbow Injury
de Elbow Injury Fracture
dfe Elbow Injury Nursemaids
ee Electrical Injury
de Eye Injury
ed Facial Injury General Considerations
fr Facial Injury Contusion
ed Hand Injury Finger Sprains
ded Fingernail and Toenail Injuries
dd Hand Injury Fractures
23 Head Injury Skull Fracture and Concussion
44 Chest Injury Myocardial Contusion
fde Heat Illness
ed Hest Injury Hemothorax
y Back Injury Disc Disease
;l High Altitude Illness

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