Elbow Fracture Treatment & Management

  • Author: Daniel K Nishijima, MD; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 2, 2010
 

Emergency Department Care

Emergency physicians need to do a thorough neurovascular examination as well as evaluate for concurrent injuries.

Provide adequate analgesia to achieve patient comfort in the ED.

Proper immobilization for the various types of elbow fractures is indicated.

Assess whether the patient needs orthopedic evaluation in the ED, admission to the hospital for observation, or if discharge and follow up with an orthopedic surgeon is adequate.

Next

Consultations

All elbow fractures should be referred for orthopedic follow-up.

Urgent orthopedic consultation in the ED is required in the following situations:

  • If an open fracture or an open joint is suspected
  • If the injury poses a significant risk of neurovascular injury such as a displaced supracondylar fracture
Previous
Proceed to Medication
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Daniel K Nishijima, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center

Daniel K Nishijima, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Matthew Goldman, MD  Associate Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Southside Hospital, NS-LIJ

Matthew Goldman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francis Counselman, MD  Program Director, Chair, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Francis Counselman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), Norfolk Academy of Medicine, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Tom Scaletta, MD  Chairperson, Department of Emergency Medicine, Edward Hospital; Past-President, American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Tom Scaletta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD 

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References
  1. Kuntz DG Jr, Baratz ME. Fractures of the elbow. Orthop Clin North Am. Jan 1999;30(1):37-61. [Medline].

  2. Gupta R. Intercondylar fractures of the distal humerus in adults. Injury. Oct 1996;27(8):569-72. [Medline].

  3. Wilkins KE. Fractures and dislocations of the elbow region. In: Rockwood CA, Wilkins KE, King RE, ed. Fractures in Children. 4th ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1996:653.

  4. Brown IC, Zinar DM. Traumatic and iatrogenic neurological complications after supracondylar humerus fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop. Jul-Aug 1995;15(4):440-3. [Medline].

  5. Geiderman JM. Humerus and elbow. In: Marx JA. Marx: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby; 2006:Chap 49.

  6. Harris IE. Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. Orthopedics. Jul 1992;15(7):811-7. [Medline].

  7. Nicholson DA, Driscoll PA. ABC of emergency radiology. The elbow. BMJ. Oct 23 1993;307(6911):1058-62. [Medline].

  8. Skaggs D, Pershad J. Pediatric elbow trauma. Pediatr Emerg Care. Dec 1997;13(6):425-34. [Medline].

  9. Shearman C, el-Khoury GY. Pitfalls in the radiologic evaluation of extremity trauma: Part 1. The upper extremity. Am Fam Physician. 1998;58:1298. [Medline].

  10. Karlsson MK, Hasserius R, Karlsson C, et al. Fractures of the olecranon: a 15- to 25-year followup of 73 patients. Clin Orthop. Oct 2002;205-12. [Medline].

  11. Steinberg G, Adkins C, Baran D. Orthopaedics in Primary Care. 2nd ed. Williams & Wilkins; 1992:62-85.

  12. Roust AF, Bredenkamp JH, Uehara DT. Injuries to the elbow and forearm. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Text; 2003:1691-1694.

Previous
Next
 
Intercondylar fracture.
Supracondylar fracture.
Displaced supracondylar fracture.
Medial epicondyle fracture.
Lateral condyle fracture.
Radial head fracture.
Olecranon fracture.
Anterior and posterior fat pads with radial head fracture.
Cubitus varus.
Table. CRITOE.
Ossification CentersAge of Appearance, y
Capitellum1-2
Radial head4-5
Internal (medial) epicondyle4-5
Trochlea8-10
Olecranon8-9
External (lateral) epicondyle10-11
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.