4. ELBOW CONDITIONS
Injury and mechanical derangement.
Congenital and developmental abnormalities.
Infection and inflammation.
Arthritis and rheumatic disorders.
Metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Tumours and lesions that mimic them.
Neurological disorders and muscle weakness.
5. HISTORY TAKING
PATIENT DETAILS CHIEF COMPLAINTS
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS PAST HISTORY
FAMILY HISTORY PERSONAL HISTORY
TREATMENT HISTORY NEGATIVE HISTORY
7. THE ATHLETE’S ELBOW
It is important to remember when examining the
elbow of any athlete or manual laborer that
adaptations to repetitive stresses induced by
sport/work activities may result in “abnormal”
findings which may not represent true pathology
8. SPECIFIC POINTS IN HISTORY
Any Traumatic events
Falls, dislocations, lacerations, fractures
Recent athletic activity
Throwing history
When, where, how much, how well, how fast
Changes in routine or training regimen
Pain or instability with throwing
85% of throwers with medial elbow instability complain of
pain in the acceleration phase of throwing
Neurologic symptoms with throwing
9. PAIN
Site Time and mode of onset
Severity or Intensity Character or Nature
Progression Referred pain
Aggravating factors Relieving factors
Any diurnal variation Any seasonal variation
10. PAIN
The extent of reference is governed by a number of factors.
The depth of the structure beneath the skin.
The position of the structure within the dermatome.
The severity of the lesion
14. SWELLING
Site Shape Size
First notice
Associated Symptoms
•Pain
•Pressure
•Neurological
•Vascular
•Articular
Progression
Any other swelling Reducibility
Any discharge
•If present
•Duration
•Regular or intermittent
•Character of discharge
15. DEFORMITY
Site
Associated Symptoms
• Neurological
• Vascular
• Articular
Amount of
disability
Time of Onset
• Congenital
• Developmental
• Acquired
Correctability
• Completely correctable
• Partially correctable
• Incorrectable
19. LOSS OF FUNCTION
Mode of onset
• Sudden
• Gradual
Duration
• Congenital
• Chronic
• Acute
Involved region
and function(s)
Progression
Associated
features
26. REGIONAL EXAMINATION
• InspectionLOOK
• PalpationFEEL
• Active/Passive movement
• Strength TestingMOVE
• Shortening or Lengthening
• Range of Motion
• Regional measurements
MEASURE
• Depends upon specific region in considerationSPECIAL TESTS
27. INSPECTION
Normal carrying angle in adult
Male = 10-11 degrees valgus
Female = 13 degrees valgus
Common for throwers to have > 15 degrees valgus at elbow
Person with large elbow effusion will tend to hold elbow flexed
70-80 degrees as this corresponds to greatest volume of elbow
joint capsule
29. INSPECTION
Medial epicondyle, antecubital fossa, lateral recess,
olecranon tip
Ecchymosis anteriorly may indicate biceps tendon rupture
Ecchymosis medially may indicate a fracture of the medial
epicondyle or avulsion injury
30. INSPECTION
Prominence of the olecranon tip may indicate
posterior/posterolateral dislocation or triceps avulsion
Olecranon bursa should be inspected
If enlarged may represent bursitis
Aseptic vs. septic
Ulnar nerve subluxation may be visible
35. EPICONDYLITIS
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
Palpate medial muslce mass/epicondyle while resisting active
pronation
Pain either within muscle belly or directly over epicondyle
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Palpate mobile wad while resisting active supination (ECRB most
common offender)
Pain within muscle belly or over epicondyle
36. BONY IMPINGEMENT
Impingement of the posteromedial tip of the
olecranon in the olecranon fossa
Pain occurs as the elbow is snapped into extension
More common in throwing athletes
37. PALPATION
Soft Tissues
Antecubital Fossa
Mobile wad, biceps tendon, brachial pulse
Median nerve not generally palpable
Medial
Flexor-pronator mass
Ulnar nerve
UCL
38. BICEPS TENDON RUPTURE
Palpation in the antecubital fossa
Absence of typically prominent tendon
Resisted supination will increase prominence
+/- Pain in antecubital fossa
Ecchymosis may be present
39. ULNAR NERVE INSTABILITY
Ulnar nerve held in cubital tunnel by overlying
and investing fascia
Rupture or stretch of this tissue may lead to
subluxation of nerve
Paresthesias
Pain with subluxation
May have pain with palpation
40. ULNAR NERVE INSTABILITY
Ulnar nerve subluxes anteriorly with increasing flexion of elbow
Nerve “snaps” back with rapid active extension
Typically the “snap” back into the cubital tunnel creates the pain
or paresthetic symptoms
Compression wrap or brace may be enough to keep nerve from subluxing
Patients with paresthesias may require elective ulnar nerve transfer
41. ULNAR NERVE IMPINGEMENT
Anomalous bands of triceps insertion may impinge ulnar nerve
as they snap over medial epicondyle
Sensation of “snapping” as the arm is actively extended with
ulnar nerve symptoms
“Snapping Triceps Syndrome”
Spinner and Goldner, JBJS 1998
Nerve is stable in cubital tunnel
42. RANGE OF MOTION
Active followed by passive ROM
Normal ROM in adult
0 – 140 degrees +/- 10 degrees in sagittal plane
80-90 degrees of forearm rotation in each direction
With progressive extention, elbow moves into increasing valgus
45. RANGE OF MOTION
Loss of motion in athlete attributable to:
Capsular contracture
Capsular strain
Musculotendinous contracture or strain
Loose body
Osteophyte formation
Scar tissue
46. Strength Examination
Any routine examination of the elbow should
include a strength examination
Rotator cuff
Deltoid
Biceps
Triceps
Pronation and Supination
Wrist dorsal- and volar-flexion
Grip, Intrinsics, and APL