Elbow
Elbow |
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| Written by Garotta Lorenzo |
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Advertise - Pubblicitè - Pubblicità The elbow joint is quite complex and difficult to treat. It is known that prolonged immobilization of the elbow, can rapidly lead to joint stiffness: this will handicap some daily activities (telephone, tieing shoes, personal hygiene...). Some time ago elbow surgery was a procedure fraught with complications. Today, improved anatomical knowledge, combined with modern arthroscopic techniques allows us to obtain excellent results comparable with other joints. Rehabilitation is started sooner, reducing the risk of stiffness. Pathologies of the elbow most commonly treated are: dislocation and its sequelae, arthritis, stiffness, epicondylitis (tennis), golfer's elbow (golf), injuries of ligaments, the presence of loose bodies in the joint, bursitis, inflammatory disease .... Surgical treatment is very well described for each condition.
Symptoms at the elbow.
Pain is the first symptom: its location is important for diagnosis. Widespread pain can be the symptom of an inflammatory condition, while a pain with tingling in the hand may suggest a pain nerve (ulnar or radial). Pain on the lateral side is a classic symptom of tennis elbow but the same pain at night could be related to a different pathology (osteoid osteoma ...) compared to pain that occurs after physical exercises (tendinitis ...).
Locking of the elbow may suggest the presence of loose bodies in the joint (mechanical cause).
Stiffness in the elbow is another fairly common symptom: particularly full elbow extension movement is more difficult to achieve and usually the first to be reduced. Post traumatic stiffness is quite different from stiffness that settles with time (osteoarthritis ...)
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of elbow pathology is based on clinical findings and analysis of the patient's clinical history; the physician has to look for the pain, test the mobility and verify a possible presence of a muscular deficit, test the ligaments (with the aid of fluoroscopy, if necessary). Standard x-rays (OA ...) and ultrasound (tendinitis ...) can provide very useful information. In more complex cases, MRI or CT-scan can help to make a correct diagnosis.
Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation of elbow surgery is crucial to get a good result and is performed according to well codified protocols. Generally, elbow arthroscopy allows a faster recovery, because the pain is less sever compared with open surgery. The goal is to start early rehabilitation to prevent stiffness and muscle atrophy.
(This website only provides a general guidance: it is essential that you strictly follow the advise given by the surgeon and physiotherapist who are providing the treatment.)
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 19 June 2011 19:31 |
