Stiff elbow may develop after a fracture, dislocation, or other injury, elbow surgery or osteoarthritis. It can be challenging, however, to find an appropriate elbow specialist in some areas.

If you need an elbow replacement, try to locate an orthopedic surgeon who is an upper extremity specialist and who does this procedure several times a year. As the population ages and people who have had a total elbow replacement surgery are living longer, research is under way to develop more durable replacement joints that last longer than existing models.Īn elbow injury is the most common reason why a person would need elbow replacement surgery (severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis come in second).

The risk of severe elbow injury is elevated in older people, who are more active now than our older population was years ago, so doctors are seeing more of them coming in with elbow trauma. Your recovery depends on the extent of your injury and your commitment to your therapy exercises. Surgery can range from repairing torn tendons and ligaments and releasing scar tissue to increase range of motion to replacing the entire joint. If surgery is needed, your doctor will discuss your options. Depending on your injury, you may need a splint and sling to immobilize the arm while you heal, combined with a program of physical therapy. Falling on an icy sidewalk or from a high height off a ladder as you are trying to clean out your gutters at home are other common causes of elbow injuries.Īn injury to the elbow can cause swelling, pain, instability and decreased range of motion. When your elbow hits a surface after your body has been speeding through space – such as falling from a bike or scooter or on a basketball court – you may sustain a fracture of the ulna or radius bones of the upper arm, a dislocation (where the elbow bones come out of alignment), or a tear of the soft tissues that surround the bones. The ulnar nerve runs through the elbow and into the forearm, along with a network of vital blood vessels. Muscles and tendons in the joint enable you to bend and straighten your arm and to rotate the forearm without moving the upper arm. The joint is stabilized by ligaments at the front, back, and sides of the elbow.

Your 'funny bone' is the protrusion at the end of the ulna known as the olecranon. The elbow is the joint composed of the end of the upper arm bone, called the humerus, and the two forearm bones: the radius and ulna. Learning about the anatomy of the elbow joint can help you better understand how it works and how you can best preserve its function and comfort for years to come.

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