The elbow is a combination joint : it
has to be a hinge as well as a pivot.
The hinge part of the joint acts somewhat
like the hinge of a door; the
pivot part allows the lower arm to rotate,
so that you can throw. The motion of
repetitive throwing exerts a great deal
of pull on the ligaments and tendons
that stabilize the elbow joint. It is
little wonder there are so many injuries
during baseball season! Excessive pulling
on ligaments and tendons can lead to
injury, especially in young people, whose
bones are still developing.
- Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's
or Baseball Elbow)
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's
or Baseball Elbow) is an
injury that occurs when a repetitive
throwing motion pulls too strongly
on elbow tendons and ligaments, straining
them over and over again.
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is
an inflammation of a nerve that passes
under the bone on the elbow commonly
referred to as the "funny bone." At this
spot, the ulnar nerve lies directly next
to the bone and is susceptible to pressure & irritation.
- Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis
Elbow)
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis
Elbow) occurs when tendons
that attach to the bone on the outside
(lateral) part of the elbow become
stretched and strained, and degeneration
develops at the site of the tendon's
attachment. It's associated with tennis
but can be caused by any number of
repetitive gripping and grasping activities.
- Elbow osteoarthritis
Elbow osteoarthritis
Most patients who are diagnosed with
elbow osteoarthritis have a history of
injury to the elbow, such as a fracture
that involved the surface of the joint,
or an elbow dislocation.
Pain and loss of range of motion are
the most obvious signs of arthritis,
but in later stages, patients might also
notice numbness in their ring finger
and pinkie finger. Sometimes there is
grating or locking. Xrays can be used
to diagnose arthritic changes.
- Dislocation/ligament injuries
Dislocation/ligament injuries Three
bones come together to form the elbow
joint. An indication of dislocation or
ligament injury may be bruising on the
inside and outside of the elbow where
ligaments may have been torn or stretched.
- Elbow replacement
Elbow replacement
Though not as common as hip or knee
replacement, elbow replacement can have
similar excellent results and improvement
in quality of life. It is usually recommended
when the damage to the joint has become
too difficult to manage by other means.
- Elbow arthroscopy
Elbow arthroscopy may
be used by your orthopedic surgeon use
to look inside your elbow joint. It's
an outpatient surgery that involves making
a tiny incision about the size of a buttonhole,
and inserting pencil sized instruments.
- Fracture
Fracture literally means
'broken.' A bone may be completely fractured
or partially fractured. Sometimes this
is caused by trauma, or as a result of
osteoporosis. Fractures can even occur
with overuse, such as an athlete's stress
fracture.
