Elbow Injuries Overview

Study Notes

Elbow Contusion: direct blow to the elbow, pain, swelling, bruising, treated with RICE, NSAIDs, and padding for protection.
Myositis Ossificans: repeated trauma or improper management of contusions leading to bone formation in muscle tissue, treated with conservative management, surgical excision in severe cases.
Olecranon Bursitis: direct blow or repetitive pressure on the olecranon bursa, treated with RICE, aspiration of bursa fluid, and antibiotics if infected.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Sprain: repetitive valgus stress, pain on the medial side of the elbow, instability, treated with conservative management, surgery in severe cases.
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow): repetitive extension of the wrist and fingers, pain and tenderness on the lateral epicondyle, worsened with gripping, treated with RICE, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections.
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow): repetitive flexion of the wrist and fingers, pain and tenderness on the medial epicondyle, weakness with wrist flexion, treated similarly to lateral epicondylitis.
Elbow Dislocation: usually a fall on an outstretched hand, visible deformity, severe pain, inability to move elbow, treated with immediate reduction, immobilization, and physical therapy.
Elbow Fracture: direct trauma, fall on an outstretched hand, pain, swelling, deformity, inability to move elbow, treated depending on the type and severity of the fracture.

Phalange Sprains, Dislocations, Fractures: direct trauma, twisting forces, pain, swelling, deformity, inability to move fingers, treated depending on the specific injury.
Mallet Finger: forced flexion of extended finger, inability to extend distal phalanx, drooping of fingertip, treated with splinting of the DIP joint in extension for 6-8 weeks.
Jersey Finger: forced extension of flexed finger, inability to flex DIP joint, pain, swelling, treated with surgical repair.
Boxer's Fracture: direct blow to the fifth metacarpal, pain, swelling, deformity, limited motion, treated with closed reduction and immobilization, possibly surgery.
Scaphoid Fracture: fall on outstretched hand, pain, swelling in anatomical snuffbox, limited motion, treated with immobilization, possibly surgery if displaced or unstable.
Colles' Fracture: fall on outstretched hand with wrist extended, dorsal displacement of distal radius, pain, swelling, treated with closed reduction and casting, surgery in severe cases.
Gamekeeper's Thumb (UCL Injury of Thumb): forceful abduction of the thumb, pain, swelling, instability of thumb, treated with thumb spica splint, possibly surgery for complete tears.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: compression of median nerve in wrist, numbness, tingling in thumb, index, middle, and half of ring finger, weakness, treated with splinting, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, surgery in severe cases.
Ganglion Cyst: non-painful lump, may cause discomfort or limit movement, treated with observation, aspiration, surgical removal.