Elbow Specialist

Why would I need elbow surgery?

There are many reasons why you might need elbow surgery. Some of the injuries and degenerative conditions that might improve with surgery include:

• Tennis elbow
  
• Golfer’s elbow
  
• Fractures
  
• Ulnar nerve (funny bone) compression
  
• Loose cartilage and other debris in the joint
  
• Scar tissue removal
  
• Osteoarthritis
  
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  
• Osteochondritis dissecans (injury common in gymnasts and athletes who throw)

In most cases, the team at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists tries to treat elbow problems with noninvasive treatments, like physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, before turning to surgery. When necessary, the surgeons can also replace your elbow joint.

What are the signs that I need elbow surgery?

Pain is one of the most common signs of an elbow injury. You might also have swelling or stiffness in your elbow that reduces your mobility. Elbow problems can also cause numbness, weakness, and electrical sensations in your forearm, wrist, and hand.

If you have elbow pain or other problems, make an appointment for assessment and treatment right away. The earlier you start treatment, the better chances you have of resolving your issue with noninvasive treatments and avoiding surgery.

What happens during elbow surgery?

If you do need elbow surgery, you’re in excellent hands with the team of orthopedic surgeons at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists. They offer minimally invasive arthroscopy procedures to repair your elbow.

During an arthroscopy procedure, your surgeon only needs to make a couple of small incisions. Then, they insert a thin surgical tube called an arthroscope, which has a camera and a light on its tip. The camera sends a video of the inside of your elbow to a monitor in the operating room, allowing your surgeon to examine and repair your joint without having to make a large incision in your skin.

Using the video from the arthroscope to guide their movements, your surgeon inserts other specially designed surgical instruments into your joint to complete the repairs. When the operation is complete, they remove the tools and close the small incisions, usually with a single stitch or suture.

After your surgery, you wear a sling and start physical therapy almost immediately to help you maintain and improve your range of motion and strength as you recover.

If you have elbow pain, call NASA Bone & Joint Specialists or make an appointment online today.