Elbow Fractures & Dislocations
Elbow fractures and dislocations are breaks or joint disruptions of the bones that form the elbow — usually from a fall or direct blow — ranging from simple cracks to complex combined injuries.
What are elbow fractures and dislocations?
The elbow is formed by three bones — the humerus above and the radius and ulna in the forearm. A fall or blow can crack any of them (commonly the radial head or the olecranon tip), or force the joint out of place (a dislocation), sometimes combined with a fracture. The elbow is prone to stiffness after injury, so the balance between protecting it and starting motion is central to treatment.
Symptoms to watch for
- Pain, swelling, and often a visible deformity after a fall
- Inability to bend or straighten the elbow
- Numbness or tingling in the hand (the nerves run close to the joint)
- An obviously out-of-place elbow after a dislocation
How it is diagnosed
X-rays identify the fracture or dislocation, and a CT scan is often used for complex injuries to plan surgery. Your surgeon will also check the nerves and circulation to the hand.
Treatment
Stable, well-aligned fractures are treated without surgery — a brief period of protection followed by early, guided motion to prevent stiffness. Displaced or unstable fractures, and complex dislocations, are treated surgically with plates and screws and sometimes ligament repair, again followed by early motion. Restoring a stable, well-aligned joint that can move soon is what produces the best long-term result.
Injured your elbow in a fall?
Learn about treatment, or schedule an evaluation.
Common questions
The elbow is prone to stiffness, which is why we start guided motion as early as the injury safely allows — even after surgery.
Often within days to a couple of weeks, depending on stability. Early, protected motion is one of the most important parts of recovery.
Stable, aligned fractures usually do not. Displaced or unstable injuries and complex dislocations typically do, to restore alignment and allow early motion.
Bone healing takes several weeks, with motion and strength continuing to improve over months. Complex injuries take longer and need diligent therapy.
This page is for general education and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Your specific diagnosis and treatment plan should come from Dr. Hachadorian based on your exam and imaging.