Elbow Dislocation Orthopedic Treatment

Three bones come together within the elbow joint, held in place by tendons and ligaments. When an elbow injury occurs that forces one or more bones in the elbow out of alignment, it can become dislocated. At the office of Jonathan L. Glashow, MD, our medical team offers elbow dislocation orthopedic treatment at his location in Miami, FL.

Elbow dislocation injuries can be painful, but they are fairly common. Elbow injuries while playing contact sports or when falling on the arm can result in a simple elbow dislocation. These injuries can push the ends of the humerus, radius or ulna out of alignment. Symptoms include severe pain, swelling and inability to bend the arm, as well as numbness or weakness in the associated hand or fingers. Simple elbow dislocations can usually be resolved with a closed reduction to realign the bones, followed by recovery and rehabilitation.

Complex Elbow Dislocation

When there are fractures combined with an elbow dislocation injury, it is called a complex elbow dislocation. These injuries require complicated treatment to both realign the bones and repair the fractured bone or bones. Many complex elbow dislocations will require surgery to stabilize the broken bones, and possibly screws or plates to hold the bone segments together.

Since the elbow has nerves that pass through the joint, it is possible to have nerve damage from an elbow dislocation injury. Orthopedic treatment may be required to ensure the nerves and blood vessels are not damaged or compressed. The fingers and hands can be impacted by nerve damage in the elbow.

Dr. Glashow and his medical team can provide an accurate diagnosis for elbow dislocation injuries. Whether you fell on an outstretched arm and dislocated your elbow joint while playing football or sustained a broken elbow during an auto accident, Dr. Glashow and his team offer advanced treatment for simple or complex elbow dislocations.

A dislocated elbow is a painful injury that can jeopardize the nerves in the elbow joint. If you have an elbow injury in the Miami, FL, area, Jonathan L. Glashow, MD and our orthopedic surgery and sports injury clinic offer exceptional treatment options. Contact our office to schedule your elbow joint exam and consultation with one of our orthopedic specialists.