Elbow Care and Treatments

Understanding Elbow Conditions and Available Treatments

Elbow Care and Treatments in Hoover and Birmingham, Serving Central Alabama

The elbow serves as the midway point between the shoulder and hand. It’s a hinged joint that joins together the upper arm bone and two forearm bones. The elbow contains cartilage, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, allowing the arm to move in different directions. The elbow also significantly influences hand movement. For instance, a rotating hand is not caused by the wrist but rather by the elbow.

When the elbow sustains an injury or some other complication, patients suffer from limited mobility and require treatment from an experienced orthopedic elbow specialist. Southlake Orthopaedics provides comprehensive and personalized orthopedic and sports medicine care at locations in Birmingham and Hoover, AL.

Elbow Conditions Requiring Orthopedic Care

The elbow might be the most complex joint in the human body. While many people think the elbow is a single joint, it has three separate bones: the humerus, ulna, and radius. The elbow is a synovial joint, which means it’s lubricated with synovial fluid for smooth movement.

Common symptoms of elbow conditions include:

Pain
Tenderness
Swelling or stiffness
Limited range of motion
Crackling or popping sound when in use
Deformity
Skin warm to the touch over the joint

Common Elbow Conditions

The elbow is susceptible to a variety of conditions, including:

Tennis Elbow

Repetitive motion and overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow can lead to a condition known as lateral epicondylitis, commonly called tennis elbow. Despite the name of this condition, people diagnosed with tennis elbow do not necessarily play tennis. This injury is common among individuals with jobs that involve repetitive movements, such as painters, plumbers, butchers, and carpenters. In many cases, the cause of tennis elbow is unclear. Treatment often involves rest, pain medication, and physical therapy.

UCL Injury

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) runs along the inner side of the elbow to provide support during activities like throwing. This ligament can be prone to injuries ranging from minor strains to major tears. Individuals with a UCL injury may feel pain on the inside of the elbow and often observe reduced throwing ability. The course of treatment depends on the seriousness of the injury and may involve surgery.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

The arm contains three main nerves, including the ulnar nerve, which runs from the neck to the hand. When pressure is placed on the nerve, patients commonly experience pain or numbness in the elbow, hand, wrist, or fingers. The most common point of entrapment area is the elbow, which orthopedic specialists call cubital tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve entrapment. A nerve conduction study confirms a patient’s condition. The goal of treatment is to relieve the pressure on the nerve and can include a combination of lifestyle changes, physical therapy, or surgery if necessary.

Distal Biceps/Triceps Tendon Rupture

The distal biceps tendon is a fibrous tissue that connects the biceps to the radius bone, just below the elbow. Patients may experience a complete or partial tear of the distal biceps tendon. A complete tear, which is more common, occurs when the tendon completely separates from the radius. This type of injury is often caused by overuse or sudden force applied to the bicep tendon while the elbow is flexed, such as during weightlifting.

Tears of the triceps tendon, also known as triceps tendon rupture, can be complete or partial. Complete tears often occur when a sudden heavy load is applied to the triceps muscle complex. Some complete ruptures are associated with pre-existing conditions.

Conservative treatment methods are used for partial tendon tears, while complete tears require surgery.

Elbow Arthritis

Elbow arthritis is inflammation of the elbow joint, which can be caused by natural wear and tear, a prior elbow injury, or a condition affecting the immune system. The inflammation typically produces pain, swelling, and damage to the joint. The most common types of elbow arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. Treatment for elbow arthritis varies but can include medications, injections, physical therapy, and surgical options.

Overuse/Throwing Injuries (Little League Elbow)

Little League elbow may seem like a minor injury, but if untreated, it can lead to serious concerns such as elbow deformity. This condition develops from overuse due to repetitive throwing motions, commonly observed in pitchers. The stress placed on the elbow’s growth plate, a layer of cartilage responsible for new growth in children and teens, can lead to irritation. Orthopedic elbow specialists will recommend treatment based on the severity of the injury.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Elbow Conditions

Patients who seek care from the dedicated team at Southlake Orthopaedics will receive complete care, which entails testing, surgery, and rehabilitation. We offer a wide range of treatments to address a variety of elbow conditions and help patients experience less pain and more living. The treatments offered by our board-certified orthopedic elbow surgeons include:

Open Surgery and Elbow Arthroscopy

Elbow arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique, and open surgery treat various conditions affecting the elbow joint. The arthroscopy procedure involves using a small camera to provide surgeons with multiple angles of the elbow from which to work.

Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction or Repair

Tommy John Surgery, formally known as UCL reconstruction, is used to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside the elbow. The procedure involves harvesting a tendon from the patient’s body or a donor and inserting it to take the place of the damaged UCL.

Cubital Tunnel Release Surgery

If the ulnar nerve is compressed, cubital tunnel release surgery can relieve pressure to alleviate symptoms. The procedure gives the nerve more room to move freely without becoming entrapped.

Endoscopic Cubital Tunnel Release Surgery

Endoscopic cubital tunnel release surgery is a minimally invasive, cutting-edge procedure to treat cubital tunnel syndrome. The surgical technique is performed with an endoscope to decompress the ulnar nerve.

Distal Biceps/Triceps Repair Surgery

Tears of the biceps and triceps tendon can be treated with surgery. Special techniques are used to reattach the tendon to the bone and keep it in place. Distal biceps and triceps repair surgery restores the flexional and rotational strength of the elbow.

Physical Therapy

Patients realize how much their elbows influence the movement of the entire arm and hands when they sustain injuries or have symptoms of a condition. Physical therapy that targets the elbow seeks to relieve pain while improving strength and mobility. It is often administered alongside other conservative treatments or surgery.

Total Elbow Arthroplasty

Elbow replacement surgery, sometimes called total elbow arthroplasty, is an operation where orthopedic surgeons replace the elbow joint with an artificial joint. The purpose of the procedure is to relieve discomfort and restore the range of motion to a damaged elbow.

Why Choose Southlake Orthopaedics for Elbow Care?

Southlake Orthopaedics specializes in the field of orthopedics. With wide-ranging expertise, our team of board-certified elbow specialists provides effective treatment for various elbow conditions for patients from all walks of life. Our team of orthopedic elbow specialists includes:

Receive Care from Elbow Doctors in Alabama

Patients experiencing elbow pain will find relief at Southlake Orthopaedics. With a dedicated team of board-certified orthopedic elbow specialists, we provide complete care from diagnosis to rehabilitation. With locations in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, we aim to deliver high-quality care to patients throughout central Alabama. For more information, contact us today.

Elbow Care and Treatments

Understanding Elbow Conditions and Available Treatments