Elbow sprains & Dislocations

The most common elbow sprain involves the medial ligament, similar to the medial ligament injury in the knee. It is usually a minor injury in a football player, although complete ruptures may occur. Medial ligament injuries are most common in throwing sports such as in baseball.

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 recommended. If the patient is active (football, throwing etc), surgery may be required. After surgery, patient will be braced for up to 6 weeks with active recovery following over the next 6-8 weeks.

A dislocated elbow is a gruesome sight and difficult to relocate on the field. A dislocation is a medical emergency as blood vessels and nerves may be damaged. Patients must seek medical aid as soon as possible. Fortunately they rarely recur and have a short recovery period.

An arm sling may sometimes be required to help provide pain relief in elbow injuries. The ProCare Shoulder Immobilizer is used in hospitals across Australia and the DonJoy UltraSling III is often used by our elite athletes.