Damage to the joint will affect many aspects of a person’s life, including feeding, dressing, and hygiene. The radial head (upper end of radius) articulates with the humerus and the olecranon to allow supination and pronation (palm up and palm down) motions of the forearm.Īs can be seen, the elbow joint is a very critical joint for the function of the upper limb. The olecranon (upper end) of the ulna articulates with the humerus, allowing bending motions of the upper limbs at the elbow. X-rays will be performed at intervals to monitor fracture healing.The elbow joint is a joint of the upper limbs, formed between the arm bone (humerus) and the forearm bones (radius and ulna). Follow-up may be required for at least 6-12 months after surgery or until a satisfactory recovery is achieved. Outpatient physiotherapy will be arranged and may need to be continued for 6-12 months.Īn appointment will be arranged for you to be seen at 2 weeks after the procedure. Vigorous use of the arm or lifting heavy objects should be avoided for at least 3 months. Strengthening exercises are started after 12 weeks. You may be able to resume driving 4-6 weeks. After 4 weeks you may stop wearing the sling and will be allowed to move the elbow actively through a greater range. You will be advised to protect the elbow by wearing a sling for 4 weeks and intermittently performing movements of the elbow within certain limits. It is important to keep the elbow elevated for at least 7-10 days after surgery to avoid swelling. Prior to discharge from hospital a physiotherapist will provide instructions about looking after the elbow. If ligaments were repaired, the elbow may be protected in a brace. The bandage is usually removed after 24-48 hours and replaced with an elastic support (tubigrip). The elbow will be wrapped in a padded bandage after surgery. If the dressing is removed for any reason it should be replaced with a similar dressing or waterproof plaster. The dressing should be left undisturbed as far as possible for 14 days. If these symptoms are troublesome, removal of the plate and screws may be considered, but this is usually deferred until 12 - 18 months after surgery.Ĭhest infection, Deep vein thrombosis, Pulmonary embolism, Myocardial infection are possible after surgery.įollowing the procedure the surgical wound is covered with a shower-proof dressing. Implant related symptoms: Metal implants may occasionally irritate the soft tissues or sometimes lead to aching in cold weather. Persistent stiffness that fails to resolve over 6-9 months may require further surgery In most instances it will resolve as you start moving the elbow with the aid of physiotherapy. Stiffness: Some degree of stiffness is not uncommon following injury and surgery. Nonunion: Occasionally the fracture may fail to heal. In some instances the elbow may continue to function well despite a malunion but if function is affected then further surgery may be considered. Malunion: Sometimes the bone may heal in an abnormal position. This diminishes in size over time and does not lead to functional problems.įixation failure: If the bone is weak due to osteoporosis or fragmented, the plate and screws may not hold well and the fixation may fail. Numbness around the scar: The nerves that run to the skin around the scar may be injured during the operation leading to a numb patch around the scar. Nerve or vascular injury: This is possible but uncommon.īleeding : Bleeding may occur during or after surgery. It is essential to avoid pressure on the elbow until the wound has healed and the sutures have been removed. Wound breakdown: The surgical wound may sometimes fail to heal. Several measures are employed to minimize the risk of infection including administration of antibiotics prior to the operation, an antiseptic technique and the use of a clean air theatre. Infection: This can occur after any operation where metal devices are implanted in the body. This is turn allows an earlier and better recovery of function. Surgery allows the displaced bone fragments to be realigned and fixed in a way that restores and maintains the shape of the bone. The fracture is exposed, the bone fragments realigned and then fixed with screws, a plate and screws or tension band wires. The operation is performed under a combination of general and regional anaesthesia.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |