Elbow fracture

Elbow fractures are any broken bone in or near the elbow joint and include olecranon fractures, supracondylar humerus fractures and radial head fractures. The two most common causes of elbow fractures are direct trauma to the elbow joint or bracing a fall with and extended arm. The elbow joint is formed by the articulation of three different bones: the ulna, radius, and humerus that permit the joint to move like a hinge and allow a person to straighten, bend their arm, and rotate their forearm. These bones are connected by tendons, ligaments, and muscle to form the joint. Due to the complexity of the elbow joint, mechanisms of injury, treatment strategies, and complications differ depending on which bones are affected.