![]() Later on, the focus may shift to increasing arm strength, especially with regards to bending and straightening motions of the elbow. In both cases, the focus is on restoring elbow range of motion. In the case of fractures managed with casts, elbow rehabilitation begins after cast removal. If the fracture was fixed surgically, elbow rehabilitation can begin once the pain subsides. ![]() How is the rehabilitation of the elbow conducted? If surgery is deemed necessary, sutures will usually be removed 2 weeks after surgery, and an arm sling may be recommended for a week. Olecranon fracture skin#The skin overlying is then closed with sutures. This is then placed back into its original position, and the bone is then held with metal implants to allow bone healing in a good position. The treatment of choice is open reduction and internal fixation, with the skin overlying the fracture ends cut to expose the broken bone within. Surgical treatment is the preferred option if the bone ends are no longer in contact. Prior to removal of the cast, the fracture healing is typically evaluated with plain X-rays. This cast is then worn for 3 to 4 weeks, before removal. Olecranon fracture full#In this case, the arm is left in the backslab for a week, before a full above arm cast is applied. Non-surgical treatment may be considered if the fracture is undisplaced. Depending on the severity of the fracture, one of 2 treatment options may be offered, ![]() In some patients with severe fractures, a computerised tomography (CT) scan may also be necessary to fully characterise the fracture.Īfter diagnosing the fracture, your doctor will often recommend placing the arm in an above elbow backslab with the arm held straight. The doctor may also evaluate your shoulder, upper arm and forearm/wrist, depending on the mechanism of injury.įollowing the clinical examination, a plain X-ray of the elbow is frequently conducted, which will confirm the diagnosis of the fracture. He/she will then proceed to examine the elbow, looking especially for broken skin. Generally after a fall, your doctor will begin by asking about the details of the fall, and the location and type of pain. If the fracture does not heal, elbow function may be severely affected, with weakness of arm straightening being the most disabling. If the bone ends are too far away, the fracture will not heal properly, and in severe cases might not heal at all. This means that in most patients, the fracture ends will be a significant distance apart. When the bone is fractured, the triceps invariably will pull the broken part of the bone away from the rest of the ulna. The triceps brachii muscle is attached to the olecranon. This second mechanism is especially prevalent in older patients who might have poorer bone stock. In this case, the muscle attached to the olecranon, the triceps brachii contracts strongly, and breaks the olecranon, pulling it away from the rest of the ulna bone. These fractures may also happen indirectly, when one falls onto their outstretched hand. Olecranon fractures usually occur due to a fall onto the point of the elbow. The olecranon is the upper part of the ulna bone, and it articulates with the trochlea groove of the distal humerus to form part of the elbow joint. What are olecranon fractures and how do they occur? This article will focus on fractures of the olecranon process. What types of fractures can occur at the elbow?įractures around the elbow include the following, Injuries around the elbow can include fractures (broken bones) of any of the bones and/or dislocation (joint surfaces no longer in contact) of the ulno-humeral, or the radio-humeral articulations. Unfortunately, the elbow joint is not covered by much soft tissue and lies very close to the skin. Damage to the joint will affect many aspects of a person’s life, including feeding, dressing, and hygiene. The radial head (upper end of radius) articulates with the humerus and the olecranon to allow supination and pronation (palm up and palm down) motions of the forearm.Īs can be seen, the elbow joint is a very critical joint for the function of the upper limb. The olecranon (upper end) of the ulna articulates with the humerus, allowing bending motions of the upper limbs at the elbow. ![]() The elbow joint is a joint of the upper limbs, formed between the arm bone (humerus) and the forearm bones (radius and ulna). ![]()
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