Managing Elbow Dislocations, Radial Head Fractures and Biceps Tears

The elbow is the second most commonly dislocated joint, and it can relocate on its own after a fall onto an outstretched hand. Val looks for medial bruising as a sign of a torn medial ligament. After reduction, an elbow that redislocates before 30 degrees short of full extension may need surgery. Either way, Sheffield starts movement early in a collar and cuff from 60 degrees short of extension to full flexion, reaching full extension by 4 to 6 weeks, with no hinge braces. The elbow extension test helps screen adults for fracture: without full extension the chance of fracture is about 50 percent, with it under 5 percent. Radial head fractures make up 20 to 30 percent of adult elbow trauma, graded with the Mason classification. Distal biceps tears mostly affect middle-aged men and are seven times more likely in smokers. Without repair about 30 percent of flexion and 50 percent of supination power is lost, so early referral matters. After an endobutton repair, rehab starts at once within a safe zone set at surgery.