Elbow (Olecranon) Surgery 

Procedure

Surgery to treat an olecranon fracture is usually necessary when:

  • The fracture is out of place (“displaced”). Because the triceps muscles attach to the olecranon to help straighten the elbow, it is important for the pieces to be put together so you can straighten your elbow.

  • The fracture is “open” (pieces of bone have cut the skin). Because the risk of infection is higher in an open fracture, the patient will receive antibiotics by vein (intravenous) in the emergency room, and may require a tetanus shot. The patient will promptly be taken to surgery so that the cuts can be thoroughly cleaned out. The bone will typically be fixed during the same surgery.

    Surgery can be done under general anesthesia (going to sleep) or under regional anesthesia (using medicines like novocaine that numb the arm), or both.

The surgeon will typically make an incision over the back of the elbow and then put the pieces of bone back together. There are several ways to hold the pieces of bone in place. The surgeon may choose to use:

  • Pins/wires

  • Screws only

  • Plates and screws

  • Sutures (“stitches”) in the bone or tendons

If some of the bone is missing or crushed beyond repair (pieces of bone lost through a wound during an accident), the fracture may require bone filler. Bone filler can be bone supplied by the patient (typically taken from the pelvis) or bone from a bone bank (from a donor), or an artificial calcium-containing material.

The incision is typically closed with sutures or staples. Sometimes, a splint is placed on the arm, but not always.

  • Biceps Tendon Rupture
  • Bursitis
  • Coronoid Fracture
  • Distal Humerous Fracture
  • Elbow Arthritis
  • Elbow Dislocation
  • Elbow Epicondylitis
  • Elbow Fractures in Children
  • Forearm Fractures
  • Golfer’s Elbow
  • Olecranon Fracture
  • Radial Head Fracture
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Elbow
  • Stiffness of the Elbow
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Throwing Injury
  • Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Tear

  • Autograft (UCL) Tear
  • Biceps Tendon Rupture Surgery
  • Bursitis/Impingement Surgery
  • Coronoid Fracture Surgery
  • Closed Reduction (Elbow) Surgery
  • Distal Radial Fracture Surgery
  • Elbow Arthritis Surgery
  • Elbow Arthroplasty Surgery
  • Elbow Arthroscopy Surgery
  • Elbow Epicondylitis Surgery/Tenex FAST Procedure
  • Elbow Fracture Surgery
  • Elbow Replacement Surgery
  • Olecranon Fracture Surgery
  • Radial Head Fracture Surgery
  • Tennis Elbow – Tenex FAST Surgery
  • Throwing Injury Surgery

The Orthopedic physicians at Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic provide conservative treatment options for Elbow conditions and injuries.

Recovery

After surgery, pain is controlled with a combination of pain medications.

Damage to nerves and blood vessels. There is a minor risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels around the elbow. This is an unusual side effect.

Surgery does not guarantee healing of the fracture. A fracture may pull apart, or the screws, plates, or wires may shift or break. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

  • The patient does not follow directions after surgery.

  • The patient has other health issues that slow healing, like smoking or using other tobacco products, or diabetes.

  • If the fracture was associated with a cut in the skin (an “open fracture”), healing is often slower.

Treatment Highlights

Tenex FAST Procedure

Tenex FAST Procedure

Tenex FAST procedure is an innovative procedure utilized by Dr. Paul Abeyta to address Tennis Elbow – Elbow Epicondylitis injuries and accelerate the treatment options available to patients.

Procedure Advantages:

  • Removes damaged tissue through a microincision and stimulates healing response. Uses gentle ultrasonic technology

  • Involves no general anesthesia or stitches. Local anesthetic (numbing medicine) only. Twenty minutes or less to perform. No need for physical therapy or additional treatments. Your individual results may vary.

  • Full return to normal activity in 6 weeks or less. Your individual results may vary.

Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic

The Orthopaedic physicians at Peninsula Bone & Joint Clinic provide comprehensive services to all members of the family.
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