Elbow Fractures
What Should You Know About a Broken Elbow?
Severe pain, swelling, and inability to move the elbow after a fall or direct trauma may indicate a fracture involving one of the three bones that meet at the elbow joint — an injury that often requires more careful management than fractures elsewhere in the arm, since the elbow is especially prone to stiffness after injury.
Common Patterns & Causes
Elbow fractures can involve the distal humerus (upper arm bone), radial head (a common fracture from falling on an outstretched arm), or olecranon (the tip of the elbow). Falls, direct trauma, and sports injuries are common causes across all age groups.
Diagnosis & Treatment
X-rays confirm the fracture pattern; CT scans are sometimes used for complex fractures to better plan treatment. Simple, stable, nondisplaced fractures may be treated with splinting and early motion to reduce stiffness risk. Most radial head fractures can be treated this way. Displaced or unstable fractures typically require surgical fixation, both to restore alignment and to allow earlier, safer motion — critical for this joint, since prolonged immobilization risks permanent stiffness.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why does the elbow stiffen up so easily after injury?
The elbow is particularly prone to scar tissue formation and stiffness after trauma or immobilization, which is why early, guided motion is often prioritized in treatment planning.
Do elbow fractures always need surgery?
No, some stable, well-aligned fractures do well with splinting alone, though displaced or unstable fractures generally benefit from surgical fixation.