When a crash breaks the outer part of your elbow
Advice from an elbow surgeon and a hand therapist on radial head fractures
If your hand was stretched out in the crash, the force can run up your arm and break the radial head. That’s the rounded top of one forearm bone, right where it meets the elbow. Pain along the outer elbow is common. So is trouble turning your palm up or down. A small break can be hard to spot on the first X ray. A bigger break, or an elbow knocked out of joint, may need more treatment. [1]
Find out if your elbow is stable
Ask how many pieces the bone broke into and whether any of them blocks movement. Find out if the elbow ligaments, the other forearm bones or the wrist were hurt as well. Speak up if the pain reaches down to your wrist. Some of these fractures need only a short spell of protection, while others need surgery. The choice depends on the whole arm. The first image is only one piece of it. [1]
Early elbow movement, on your team's schedule
An elbow can stiffen fast. With many simple fractures, doctors advise gentle bending and forearm turning early on, after a short time in a support. More complex injuries may call for a different timeline. Have a hand therapist show you each exact movement and how often to do it. Get clear limits on lifting and pushing. Unless you’ve been cleared, don’t lean on the hurt arm to get up from a chair. [1]
When recovery stalls or slips
Call your care team if the elbow swells more, gets stuck or stays too sore to use as expected. Get urgent care for a cold or pale hand, new numbness or severe pain that keeps climbing. Let your therapist know if your range of motion stops getting better or the elbow feels unstable. [1]
Questions to bring to your elbow checkup
- Is the fracture stable? Is there another injury in the elbow or wrist?
- Which bending and turning exercises can I start now?
- When can I lift, push and go back to work?
Get your first exercises on paper
Ask your doctor or therapist to write down the first elbow exercises you’re cleared to do. [1]
Sources and further reading
This article is general education from the view of an elbow surgeon and a hand therapist. Your safe plan for moving and lifting depends on your fracture’s size and how far the pieces moved. Any other elbow injuries matter too.
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