The Elbow Joint - Brief Anatomy & Common Injuries

Anatomy Of The Elbow:

The elbow joint is the most used hinge joint by athletes or anyone in general. It comprises of three different hinge and pivot joints made by the three arm bones with each other at the elbow junction. These three joints are namely:

Ulnohumeral joint: where the bottom of the humerus connects to the top of the ulna

Radio-humeral joint: where the bottom of the humerus connects with the top of the radius bone

Proximal radioulnar joint: where the top of the radius and ulna bones connect

Being a synovial joint, these individual joints are supported by watertight sacs called synovial capsules and synovial bursae that lubricate and cushion these joints as the elbow moves. The hinge joints allow bending and lateral stretching of the arm, while the pivot joints allow the lower arm to twist and rotate.

These joints are firmly held by thick Medial and Lateral ligaments on the inside and outside along with Annular ligaments that form a ring around the head of the radius bone, holding it tight against the ulna.

Several muscles such as the biceps, triceps, brachialis, etc. provide strength for the elbow movements and prevent overextension and rotation of the joints.

Common Elbow Injuries:

Some of the most common injuries which can occur in anyone, but especially in athletes are:

Tendonitis & Tendonosis:

Repititive and strenuous elbow movements cause severe wear and tear in the tendons in and around the elbow, ultimately causing inflammation, pain and restricted motion, a condition known as ‘tendonitis’ which is quite common in athletes who play overhead throwing sports. However, if the wear is caused due to aging, the condition is called ‘tendinosis.’

Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Injury:

The UCL is the most prone to injuries as it withstands extreme stresses and stabilizes the elbow during overhand throwing or stretching motions. This ligament is located in the inner part of the elbow joint and can experience injuries ranging from minor damage and inflammation to complete tears. Upon injury, it causes acute pain within the joint and reduced strength and agility while swinging the arm.

Tennis Elbow And Golfers’ Elbow:

Tennis elbow or ‘lateral epicondylitis’ is a condition that occurs when the outer elbow tendons get sprained or torn. It is common in almost 50% of the athletes who perform overhead arm motions and is caused by the excessive use of the wrist extensor musculature.

Medial epicondylitis or Golfer’s elbow, on the other hand, is a condition where the inner elbow tendons get injured.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome:

Like carpal tunnel syndrome, where the median nerve passing through the wrist gets squeezed,  cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition where the ulnar nerve passing through the cubital tunnel of the elbow gets pinched and causes burning or numbness in the hand, arm, and fingers.

Elbow Dislocations:

Elbow dislocations occur when one of the three bones move out of the elbow joint due to overextension while catching a distant ball or external impact during a fall. Nursemaid’s elbow is a similar condition that occurs in toddlers and kids when someone swings them by their forearms.

Stress Fractures:

Our muscles have a limited capacity of absorbing external shocks at a stretch, after which they get fatigued and transfer all shocks directly to the bones. So when athletes overuse their elbow muscles, the bones at the elbow, especially the olecranon part of the ulna, develop minor stress fractures that cause pain in the underside of the elbow.

Elbow Joint Fractures:

The most severe injury an elbow can suffer is a fracture where one of the bones gets cracked at the joint,  leading to joint immobility. Fractures mostly occur in contact sports due to severe falls or hits directly over the elbow.

Finding a suitable treatment for elbow injuries requires a thorough analysis and classification of the damage, which can only be achieved by an elbowspecialist. And if you ever need to have your elbow treatment in Mumbai, then Dr. Pranjal Kodkani is your best elbow specialist. As he specializes in treating sports injuries and preventive surgeries, he can help you not only treat one-time joint injuries but also provide preventive treatments for recurring injuries. You can visit Dr. Kodkani’s website to learn more about his joint prevention treatments and get online consultation regarding your joint problems.