Elbow Surgery for a Broken Elbow
Quite often elbow surgery is the best option for repairing a broken elbow. This is even truer for compound or open elbow injuries. An open elbow injury is one where one or more bones in the elbow region have pierced through the skin. In such a case a surgeon needs to put the bone back in place, as well as cleaned in a thorough manner so that there is no chance of any infection. Surgery is also needed for elbow injuries where blood vessels and nerves are damaged. Orthopedic specialists perform these operations, after a discussion with the patient regarding the treatment options.
Types of elbow surgery:
There are different kinds of elbow surgeries available, some are listed below:
- Cubital tunnel surgery or ulnar nerve transposition
- Tennis elbow surgery
- Distal biceps tendon surgery
- Tommy John surgery or ulnar collateral ligament repair
The Elbow is complex structure that is mechanical in nature. However, if your muscles are weak and if you tend to use them a lot then it can lead to a number of issues. When symptoms are severe or persistent you might need surgery.
Cubital tunnel surgery or ulnar nerve transposition:
The ulnar nerve happens to be one of the most important nerves in your arm. It can get compressed if stress is applied to the area on a frequent basis. If a condition is serious enough to require surgery an orthopaedic surgeon will offer a few options depending on the requirements of that particular case. This will typically include the following – cubital tunnel release, medial epicondylectomy, and ulnar nerve anterior transposition.
Cubital tunnel release is used to rectify mild to moderate nerve compression. The ligament roof is divided so that the nerve can have more room. The ligament heals while new tissue grows in the surgically operated area.
In case of ulnar nerve anterior transposition the nerve is moved before the medial epicondyle bone in the elbow. The nerve will now rest over the muscle but it would be under the layers of skin and fat in your body.
A medial epicondylectomy involves the partial removal of the medial epicondyle in order to make sure that there is sufficient space for your nerve.
Distal biceps tendon surgery:
The distal biceps tendon is located in your arms and attaches to your elbows. It is one of the two tendons that support your bicep and a sudden injury can tear it. In such cases distal biceps tendon surgeries are recommended. The procedure could involve a number of steps, including a single incision, multiple incisions, suture anchors, and rehabilitation.
Tennis Elbow surgery:
Tennis elbow surgery involves the following procedures:
- Open surgery
- Arthroscopic surgery
- Recovery
Tommy John surgery:
The following steps are a part of Tommy John Surgery:
- Surgery
- First phase of rehabilitation
- Second phase of rehabilitation
- Third phase of rehabilitation
