Dislocation of the elbow joint

Elbow dislocation is a situation in which the two major forearm bones are displaced from the place where their lower ends are articulated with the humerus. The elbow joint is the place where the bones converge, which are indicated above. Dislocations of such a location are quite rare.

Specific serious lesions accompanied by a dislocation include various fractures that occur with the bones of the hands, vascular disorders that are carried to the bloodstream, nerve damage through these areas, impaired motor function, and sensitivity of the upper limbs.

The main causes of such injuries

Quite often the cause of ulnar dislocations is falling on the arm when it is extended. This pathology often occurs during an accident. The cause may be other severe injuries associated with the injury.

Symptoms of dislocation

Severe pain in the elbow area, swelling, impossibility of joint movements are all signs of dislocation. Sometimes a person has lost the sensation of the hand, the brush, the pulse in the wrist area stops.

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Symptoms may occur that indicate damage to nerves and vessels that go very close to the elbow joint.

Surveys required for such injuries

The examination begins with a general examination. First, the doctor must make sure that the nerves and blood vessels are intact. For this purpose, check the pulse, the normal sensitivity of the skin on the hands, the ability to move your fingers and flex your wrists.

Secondly, do radiography. Fracture of the bone sometimes looks like a dislocation, fracture may be accompanied by a dislocation or vice versa. If there is a suspicion that the arteries are damaged, an arteriogram is carried out - a study of blood vessels by contrast.

Basic methods of treatment

Dislocation of the elbow is a serious injury and requires medical treatment. When at home, immediately after the incident, attach ice to the joint. This action will ease the pain and relieve puffiness. However, the most important thing is an immediate reference to a doctor.

Diagnosis can be made only by a doctor with qualifications, but before he comes, one must pay attention to all the signs that may indicate damage to the nerves and arteries.

To check the pulse, it is necessary to apply the middle and index pollen of the second hand to the base of the wrist of that hand that is damaged, under the thumb. Lightly press and try to feel the pulse. Press on the fingernails until lightening, after which they should have a normal pink tint. If you can not find the pulse, or the color of the nails after 5-6 seconds is not restored, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Three nerves pass through the elbows, provided with sensitive motor fibers - they provide the skin with sensitivity and muscle movement. Immediately it is necessary to check - how the radical nerve works by bending the wrist, as if trying to show the hand signal "stop".

If it works, then everything is fine. Check the ulnar nerve. Spread your fingers apart. Then you need to check the condition of the medial nerve. To do this, you need to bring together the little finger and thumb. If the contact between them has turned out, then the medial nerve is all right. In the event that you can not perform any of the tests, you should contact your doctor.

Check the skin of the hand - it is sensitive. To do this, you need to touch all the skin areas, located from the fingers to the elbow. If there is numbness or loss of sensitivity, consult a doctor.

The treatment that a physician can offer should begin with restoring the joint to its place using special techniques and manipulations in the forearm and the wrist. When you take into account the soreness of the joint adjustment, they make a strong anesthesia.

After this, it is mandatory to perform an X-ray diagnosis of the hand and fixing the elbow joint with a tire or bandage. After fixing, the hand must be inverted for a while. Fixation is usually done with gypsum, but now in modern clinics special fiberglass is used. Immobilization is performed to exclude movement in the joint. The hand that is fixed in the plaster should be tied to the shoulder - thus the upper limb of the person will be maintained at the desired level.