Elbow Fractures (Olecranon)
Care for a broken elbow with Dr. Steven Ward in Tucson and Oro Valley — most often the olecranon, the bony tip of the elbow, repaired with wires, screws, or a plate so you can start moving early.
Call 520-881-1394Typical ranges for general education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
What it treats
The elbow is where three bones meet: the humerus (upper arm), and the radius and ulna (forearm). The olecranon is the pointed tip of the ulna, just under the skin, where the triceps muscle attaches. It can break from a fall onto the elbow or a direct blow.
- Sudden, intense pain and trouble moving the elbow, especially straightening it
- Swelling and bruising that may spread up or down the arm
- Numbness in one or more fingers, or a feeling that the elbow is unstable
Other elbow fractures include breaks of the radial head (the top of the forearm bone on the thumb side), the distal humerus (the lower end of the upper arm bone), and fractures that happen along with an elbow dislocation. Treatment for these depends on the pattern and ranges from a sling and early motion to surgery.
Is surgery right for you?
If the pieces of the olecranon have not moved, the elbow can often heal without surgery:
- A splint, usually for about 2 weeks, then a brace and gentle motion
- Frequent X-rays to make sure the bone has not shifted
- No lifting, pushing, or pulling with the arm for a few weeks
In older or lower-demand patients, non-surgical care may be an option even when the pieces have moved. Surgery is usually recommended when the bone has broken through the skin, the pieces have moved in a younger, active person, or the joint is unstable. Open fractures are usually operated on within 24 hours.
How the surgery is done
Surgery lines the pieces back up and holds them until they heal (open reduction and internal fixation). It is done through an incision on the back of the elbow, usually with a nerve block and general anesthesia.
- Tension band — pins and a wire loop that turn the pull of the triceps into compression across the break
- Plate and screws — for breaks in several pieces or ones that extend down the bone
- A single screw — for some simple patterns
- Bone graft — if bone is crushed or missing
Stiffness and hardware
Stiffness is the most common problem after any elbow fracture, which is why motion usually starts early after surgery. Most people end up with an elbow slightly stiffer than before, often missing a few degrees of straightening, which does not usually affect function.
The olecranon sits right under the skin, so some people feel the hardware and choose to have it removed after the bone heals.
Recovery overview
Typical ranges only, based on AAOS OrthoInfo patient education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
First days to weeks
- A short period in a splint may be used after surgery, depending on the repair
- Elbow and forearm exercises often start soon after surgery, sometimes the next day
- Ice, elevation, and non-prescription pain medicine are often enough after the first few days
Weeks to months
- No heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, including pushing up from a chair or opening heavy doors, until cleared
- Light use for bathing, dressing, and eating is often allowed
- Do your therapy exercises regularly; they only help if done consistently
- Dr. Ward will tell you when it is safe to drive
Months 4 and beyond
- Most people return to normal activities within about 4 months
- Full healing and strength can take more than a year
- Arthritis can develop after the injury, sometimes years later
When to call the clinic
Call 520-881-1394 if you notice any of the following after surgery or while you are recovering:
- A fever of 101°F or higher, or chills
- Redness spreading around an incision, or drainage that is cloudy, foul-smelling, or keeps soaking the dressing after the first few days
- Fingers that turn pale, blue, or cold
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers that does not go away once the nerve block or numbing medicine has worn off, or that is getting worse
- A cast, splint, or dressing that feels too tight: throbbing pain, swelling, or numbness under it that does not ease after you raise your arm above your heart and gently move your fingers. Do not cut or remove a cast yourself
- Pain that is not controlled by your prescribed medication, elevation, and ice
It is normal for the elbow and arm to be swollen, bruised, and sore for a while, and for the arm and hand to stay numb and weak for several hours after a nerve block. Keep the arm raised on pillows and move your fingers as you were shown. Call if something feels different from what you were told to expect.
Severe pain that keeps getting worse and is far more than expected, pain that gets much worse when you move or gently stretch your fingers, or a forearm or hand that feels very tight or full, especially with tingling or burning. Pressure building inside the muscles is a surgical emergency. If a splint is held with an elastic wrap, loosen the wrap, but do not remove a hard cast yourself.
for chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing. These can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs and need emergency care.
If something does not match the instructions you were given, call the office. Dr. Ward or one of his physician assistants will get back to you.
Related resources
Physical therapy locations
Find a physical therapy clinic near you in Tucson and Oro Valley.
Open pageExercise guides
Printable home exercise programs to use with your physical therapist.
Open pagePost-op packets
Dr. Ward’s post-operative instructions and packets, organized by joint.
Open pageOrthoInfo: Elbow (olecranon) fractures
Patient education on olecranon fractures from the AAOS.
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