To prevent this from happening, make sure you follow your orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions on moving the elbow and lifting with the arm. This may require another surgery to revise (re-fix) your bones. In rare cases, the bones do not heal or the triceps muscle pulls the broken piece of bone away from where it should be. You should discuss the risks and benefits of hardware removal with your surgeon. However, hardware removal means another surgery, and all surgeries have some risk.
LEFT OLECRANON FRACTURE SKIN
Removing the hardware can be done after the bones and skin have healed. If this happens, let your surgeon know right away. Sometimes pins can back out and you can feel them under the skin. Because the bones are right under the skin of the elbow, it is common to have any plates, screws, or wires removed at a later date, as they may bother you when you put your elbow on a table or on the arm of a chair. If your cartilage was damaged in the fracture, you may experience post-traumatic arthritis, which can cause further stiffness or pain in the elbow. You may also have some weakness of the arm compared to before your injury. Depending on your injury and how it heals, you may experience just a little or quite a bit of stiffness. The most common long-term issue after an olecranon fracture is stiffness in the elbow. If your olecranon fracture is treated without surgery, follow the instructions of your orthopaedic surgeon regarding your splint, cast, or brace and bending your elbow and lifting objects. Exercise will help improve your elbow motion as well as strength. When your surgeon feels your bones and wound are ready, they may recommend gentle exercise or physical therapy. This is to allow the bones and skin to heal before you stress the elbow. It is common to have some restrictions on bending or extending your arm after surgery. Follow the instructions of your surgeon regarding how much you can move your elbow, wrist, and hand. This usually occurs around 7-14 days after surgery. If you have removable stitches or staples, they will likely be removed at your first follow-up appointment. Post-Operative CareĪfter surgery, you may be placed in a splint or have a dressing on your arm. This patient also had their radial head replaced. In that case, you may be placed in a splint, cast, or removable brace.įigure 8: X-ray of an olecranon fracture fixed with a plate. Sometimes, non-surgical treatment is recommended, for olecranon fractures that are not displaced, if you are too sick to have surgery, or if you do not use your arm much (low demand). Your surgeon will can recommend the best choice for fixing your particular injury. Your fracture may be repaired with a combination of plates and screws, large screws, wires, or even strong stitches (sutures). Surgery is done with a cut on the back of the arm. If the cartilage surface is damaged, surgery may help restore it to help reduce the chance of arthritis. In general, olecranon fractures in which the bones are displaced (moved from where they should be) or the cartilage is damaged will require surgery. If the bones do not break the skin, you will likely be able to go home and follow up with an orthopaedic surgeon in a few days. If you have an open fracture, you will likely be admitted to the hospital and require surgery to clean the wound and fix the bones. Bending the elbow can cause pain and movement of the fractured bones. Usually, the splint will hold your arm slightly extended. After that, you may be placed into a splint or cast. If you have an open fracture (where the bones poked out of the skin), you will likely get antibiotics and the wound will be washed. X-rays will be taken to see if you have a fracture. A healthcare provider will examine your elbow and check the nerves and blood supply to your arm and hand. You will generally need to go to the emergency room due to the pain and inability to move your arm. Evidence-Based Medicine Resource List Overviewįigure 4: Swelling and bruising of the elbow after an olecranon fracture.Video Library: Annual Meeting & Conferences.Sponsorship Right of First Refusal Guidelines.Exhibits & Marketing Partnerships Overview.
LEFT OLECRANON FRACTURE ARCHIVE
OTA Orthopaedic Trauma References & Resources.Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness Overview.Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness.The Issue of the Surprise-Billing Rules in Plain English.Research Survey Policy and Instructions.CNTR Early-Stage Investigator Travel Award Application.OTA Support of Federal Grant Applications.Research Volunteer Mentoring Program Overview.IOTA Special Issue: Orthopaedic Trauma Care: Global Approaches During a Pandemic.OTA SOMOS Military Traveling Fellowship Program.Fellow and Young Practitioner Resources.
0 kommentar(er)
