Elbow Fracture In Adults

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

An elbow fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that form your elbow joint. A joint is the area where bones meet. The elbow joint allows your arm to move.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• If you need a brace or splint, your elbow may become very stiff. You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.
  
  
• Surgery may damage the nerves, tissues, and blood vessels in your arm. After surgery, you may have tightness, pain, numbness, or weakness in your elbow and arm. You may form scar tissue near your surgery site leading to tightness and pain in your elbow and arm. You may get an infection in your surgery wounds. You may get arthritis (joint swelling) in your elbow, and new bone may grow into surrounding tissues. Your elbow may not heal, or work as well as it did before your injury. Screws, nails, or pins used during your surgery may come loose, and you may need another surgery.
  
  
• Without treatment, your broken elbow may not heal. If your fracture heals on its own, your arm may be deformed. You may not be able to move your elbow and arm as well as you did before your injury. You may have pain, weakness, or numbness in your elbow, arm, or hand. If you have open skin areas, you may get an infection. A severe infection may lead to a bone infection, which can be life-threatening.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Tetanus shot: You may need a tetanus shot if you have breaks in your skin from your injury. A tetanus shot is medicine to prevent you from getting tetanus. Tetanus is a serious infection that can happen after any break in your skin. The shot is normally given into your arm. You should have a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 5 to 10 years. Your arm can get red, swollen, and sore after this shot.

Treatments:

The goal of treatment is to regain the function of your elbow. You may need any of the following:

• Devices: A brace, cast, sling, or splint may be put on your elbow to decrease your arm movement. These devices work to hold the broken bones in place. They may help decrease pain, and prevent more damage to your broken bones.
  
  
• Surgery: If you have an open fracture, you may need debridement before your surgery. Debridement is when damaged and infected tissue is removed and your wound is cleaned. Debridement is done to help prevent infection and improve healing. During and after surgery, an x-ray picture of your elbow may be done. The x-ray is done to check if the bones in your elbow are being held together properly. Ask your caregiver for more information about the following surgeries:
  
  
  • Arthroplasty: This surgery is done to remove the damaged part of your elbow and replace it with an implant. An implant is a metal, ceramic, or plastic device that functions like your elbow joint. Your whole elbow joint, or only a part of it may be replaced.
    
    
  • Fragment excision: The broken fragments (pieces) of bone are removed from your elbow.
    
    
  • Open reduction and internal fixation: An incision (cut) will be made in your arm. Your broken bones will be straightened. Wires, screws, metal plates, or pins may be used to hold your broken bones together. This surgery will allow your broken bones to grow back together.
    
    
  • Bone graft: A bone graft may be needed to replace lost bone from your fracture. A bone graft is a piece of bone taken from another area of your body. The bone graft may also be from a donor (another person). The graft is put into spaces between or around the broken bones in your elbow. This surgery may help your bones heal and keep their strength.
  
  
• Electrical stimulation: Electric currents are directed into your injured elbow. The currents help increase the blood flow to your elbow to help with healing. This treatment may be used along with other treatments for your elbow fracture.
  
  
• Ultrasound therapy: Ultrasound treatments use sound waves directed into your elbow. The sound waves work by helping the bones in your elbow heal. You may need this treatment along with other treatments.
  
  
• Physical therapy: You may need physical therapy soon after your treatment. A physical therapist will help you with exercises to improve the movement of your elbow joint and arm. The exercises can also help make your arm bones and muscles stronger.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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