When a crash breaks the bony tip of your elbow
An elbow surgeon and a hand therapist on olecranon fractures
The bony point of your elbow is the end of the ulna, a bone in the forearm. It sits right under the skin. A direct hit in a crash can break it, sometimes tearing the skin open too. The triceps muscle attaches at this spot and helps you straighten your arm. If the break has shifted, surgery may be needed to line it up and restore your ability to straighten the elbow. Even an elbow that gets good care can stiffen without the right movement plan. [1]
Ask about the bone, the skin and straightening
Find out if the break runs into the elbow joint and how far the pieces moved. Ask whether the skin was broken. See if you can straighten the elbow using your own muscle power. If plates or wires were put in, keep a copy of the surgery summary. Learn when follow up images will show whether the repair is still steady. [1]
Begin only the movements you're cleared for
With some simple fractures, gentle movement can start after a short stretch in a splint. A more complex repair may need protection for longer. Ask which bending and straightening exercises are safe and when to begin them. A hand therapist can help with swelling, range of motion and everyday tasks. Until you’re cleared, don’t use that arm to push up out of a chair or to lift something heavy. [1]
Keep an eye on the wound and your hand
Call your care team for a draining wound, a fever or a splint that rubs. Call too if elbow pain and swelling keep increasing. Get urgent care for a cold or pale hand, new numbness in your fingers or a severe rise in pain. A cut over the broken bone needs quick medical care because infection can spread to the bone. [1]
Questions about your elbow repair
- Are the joint surface and the triceps attachment lined up?
- Which elbow movements can I start now?
- When can I lift or push with this arm?
Learn your first exercises before you leave
Before you head home, have the therapist walk you through your first safe elbow exercises. [1]
Sources and further reading
General education written from the view of elbow surgery and hand therapy. Your fracture and any repair set your limits for moving and lifting. Get urgent care for an open wound or a new blood flow problem in your hand.
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