Elbow Fractures

Holly J. Benjamin & Brian Tho Hang

An elbow fracture is an injury to bone (humerus, radius, or ulna) usually caused by a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) resulting in enough impact to break the cortex. Elbow fractures occur commonly in contact sports and constitute 10% of all fractures in children. Other mechanisms of injury include direct trauma or a strong directional force on the elbow. Any athlete who sustains trauma to the upper extremity should have a thorough evaluation of the elbow for the possibility of an elbow fracture or dislocation (see the entry Elbow Dislocations), as well as a thorough examination of the entire upper extremity for any associated injuries. The elbow is one of the most complex joints in the body, consisting of three articulations: ulnotrochlear, radiocapitellar, and proximal radioulnar. The elbow is extremely congruent and stable due to the specific pattern in which the bones contact and conform to each other. Due ...

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