Elbow Fractures
Elbow fractures are sustained by a fall on the out-stretched hand, or may be part of a Road-traffic accident. One of the worst kind, are the side-swipe injuries that occur due to an on-coming vehicle swiping at the elbow that is sticking out of the window.
While, the simpler ones that are not displaced, are usually treated with immobilisation in a plaster, the displaced ones usually need internal fixation. The open injuries, with a lot of soft-tissue damage will end up needing the plastic surgeon's input, and sometimes the vascular surgeon, if the there is damage to the blood vessels. These injuries may often be stabilised with external fixators, at least in the initially stages.
Stiffness seems to be an inevitable outcome with elbow injuries, sometimes even with the most trivial ones. So it is important to start mobilisation as early as feasible, to minimise stiffness. It is preferable to avoid passive forcible physiotherapy in these patients.
Elbow fractures are sustained by a fall on the out-stretched hand, or may be part of a Road-traffic accident. One of the worst kind, are the side-swipe injuries that occur due to an on-coming vehicle swiping at the elbow that is sticking out of the window.
While, the simpler ones that are not displaced, are usually treated with immobilisation in a plaster, the displaced ones usually need internal fixation. The open injuries, with a lot of soft-tissue damage will end up needing the plastic surgeon's input, and sometimes the vascular surgeon, if the there is damage to the blood vessels. These injuries may often be stabilised with external fixators, at least in the initially stages.
Stiffness seems to be an inevitable outcome with elbow injuries, sometimes even with the most trivial ones. So it is important to start mobilisation as early as feasible, to minimise stiffness. It is preferable to avoid passive forcible physiotherapy in these patients.
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