Elbow sprains & DislocationsThe most common elbow sprain involves the medial ligament, which is analogous to the knee medial ligament. It is usually a minor injury in a football player, although complete ruptures can occur. Medial ligament injuries are most common in throwing sports, so baseball pitchers for example are particularly susceptible.
A sprained medial ligament usually results in patients losing full extension (straightening) of their elbow. This may only be a limitation in the short term (1-2 weeks), however if not treated well, some patients end up with a fixed flexion deformity i.e an elbow that has permanently lost full extension. If a full ligament rupture is suspected, an MRI is the imaging of choice. If the patient is active (football, throwing etc), Surgery is usually required as soon as possible. After surgery patients wear a Range of Movement brace for up to 6 weeks, then begin active recovery over the next 6-8 weeks. A dislocated elbow is a particularly ugly sight and relatively difficult for the doctor to reduce back into place.
A dislocation is a medical emergency due to the potential of blood vessel and
nerve damage. Patients must seek medical aid as soon as possi To have your say or post a comment on these injuries, visit the injuryupdate Forum, click here .
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