Elbow Injuries
This page was last updated: April 21st, 2022
Coronavirus / COVID-19 update
During the COVID-19 risk period, wherever possible we’ll be reducing face-to-face appointments and helping you manage your injury remotely. This means that, in accordance with the British Orthopaedic Association guidelines, your individual treatment and follow up plan may be different to what happens under normal conditions. An orthopaedic consultant or a member of the orthopaedic team will always review your notes and x-ray and decide if a face-to-face follow up is necessary.
If we haven’t asked to see you for a follow up, we may offer you an open appointment, where you can make an appointment to see someone at any time in the six months after your injury. If you’d like to book an appointment, please call 01736 758892.
Advice for a new elbow injury
- rest your elbow
- elevate your arm using a pillow, cushion or sling
- apply a cold pack regularly
- protect your limb by wearing your sling and/or plaster cast
- use your elbow brace, if you have been given one, to apply compression
- Protect
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevate
- Rehabilitation
Medication
Taking regular pain relief is vital.
The Emergency Department (ED) or a Minor Injury Unit (MIU) may have prescribed you with some pain relief. Take these as instructed to help manage the pain. If you do not feel that this medication is helping, talk to us during your appointment in Fracture Clinic, or your GP, about an alternative option.
Take pain medication 30 minutes before you do your exercises. It will help you to keep your joints mobilised, which are important to help your recovery.
Cold packs
Ice is a great natural anaesthetic that helps relieve pain and controls swelling. Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a wet thin towel to your elbow for up to 15 minutes every few hours.
- Do not place ice in direct contact with the skin.
- Do not leave the ice pack on for more than 20 minutes at a time in one hour.
Rest and elevation
It’s important to rest your elbow as much as possible in the first 24 to 72 hours.
You may have been given a plaster, brace and/or sling. Keep your arm elevated in the sling or on a pillow. This will help to reduce your swelling and pain.
Smoking
Medical evidence suggests that smoking prolongs fracture healing time. In extreme cases it can stop healing altogether. Stopping smoking during the healing phase of a fracture will help ensure optimal recovery from this injury.
For advice on stopping smoking and local support available, please discuss this with your GP or go to the NHS Smoke Free website.
Helping your recovery
Being healthy can help you recover from your injury faster. Eating well, staying hydrated and keeping as active as possible will all help. We’ve put together a set of videos on all the things you can do to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Care plans for elbow injuries
Click on the box with your injury to find information that will help you understand your injury, guide you through your rehabilitation and explain what you can do to maximise your recovery.
Your diagnosis should have been made by an orthopaedic consultant or one of the team working under the supervision of the consultant team. The information in these care plans is to help you understand your diagnosis and is not exhaustive. Your consultant may give you a different, personalised care plan based on your injury and whether you need imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI or an ultrasound) or an operation.
Soft tissue elbow injury
What is your injury?
You have sprained the soft tissues (the ligaments and/or muscles) in your elbow. Your specific injury will be explained in more detail to you.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Follow up
Injuries like yours usually heal well on their own over time, so most people won’t need a follow up. If you do, we’ll contact you by phone.
If you still feel you’d like to see someone, you can book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you’re having problems with your sling
- you have any questions
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow
- you’re still experiencing pain after 12 weeks.
Wearing your sling
Use your sling for comfort after your injury. You can take it off to wash, dress and exercise. You don’t need to wear it at night.
Stop using the sling as soon as you feel comfortable to do so. Early, gentle movement will help stop your elbow getting stiff.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Do these exercises 4-5 times a day. Repeat each exercise 10 times.
Take your sling off to do them and don’t forget to take your pain relief 30 minutes before you do them.
Hand exercises
- Open and close your hand. Next, move your wrist up and down.
- After a few days, hold a soft ball/ball of socks. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. Hold for 5 seconds.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to move it daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
Elbow exercises
- Bend and straighten your elbow so you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Do not push into pain.
- Bend your elbow to 90 degrees. Slowly turn your palm up and down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch.
Non-displaced radial head and neck fracture
What is your injury?
It’s a break to a bone in your elbow.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances. At the start, your elbow may be swollen and you will have some pain.
Follow up
Most non-displaced radial head and neck fractures heal well with time. If we need to follow up with you, either on the phone or face to face, we’ll contact you by phone to arrange it.
If you feel you’d like to see someone, you can book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you have any questions
- you’re struggling with your sling
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow.
Wearing your sling
Wear your sling for comfort in the first 1 to 2 weeks. You can take it off to wash, dress and exercise. You don’t need to wear it at night.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a cup of tea for the first 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Regular exercise will prevent stiffness and help to recover movement.
Do these exercises for 6 weeks after your injury. Try to do them every hour. If this is too painful, start with 3 to 4 times a day and increase as pain allows. Taking your pain relief 30 minutes before you do your exercises can help as long as you don’t take them more often than prescribed.
Repeat each exercise 10 times.
- Open and close your hand. Next, move your wrist up and down.
- After a few days, hold a soft ball or a ball of socks. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. Hold for 5 seconds.
- Bend and straighten your elbow so you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Do not push into pain.
- Bend your elbow to 90 degrees. Slowly turn your palm up and down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to move it daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
After 6 to 12 weeks
Your fracture should now be mostly healed.
You can gradually increase your day-to-day activities. Be guided by any pain or discomfort you may still have.
It’s normal to still have some mild discomfort. This may continue for 3 to 6 months.
More information
You can find out more about your non-displaced radial head and neck fracture, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals.
Non-displaced olecranon fracture
What is your injury?
It’s a break to a bone in your elbow. Non-displaced means the bone has not moved.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Feeling and movement of your hand
You will have been fitted with a plaster and given a sling. While you’re in plaster, it’s important that you can always move your fingers and that you have full feeling in your hand.
If you lose movement or feeling in your fingers, thumb or hand, please go to the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) immediately for your plaster to be checked.
Follow up
You’ll see a specialist 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. We’ll contact you about this within four days of your injury.
The specialist will remove your cast and examine your arm. You might need another x-ray and may be fitted with another cast. The specialist will explain the next stage of your recovery.
You’ll also have a physiotherapy telephone appointment.
You can also book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- if you haven’t heard from us about your follow up appointment four days after your injury
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you have any questions
- you’re struggling with your sling or cast
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a knife and fork for the first 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Regular exercise will prevent stiffness and help to recover movement. Do these exercises little and often. Don’t forget to take your pain relief 30 minutes before you do them.
Exercises to do immediately
Moving your fingers
Bend and straighten your fingers and thumb 10 to 15 times. Do these movements regularly throughout the day. The cast may restrict your movement initially.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to do this daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
Exercises for after your cast has been removed
- Bend and straighten your elbow so you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Do not push into pain.
- Bend your elbow to 90 degrees. Slowly turn your palm up and down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Do not push into pain.
More information
You can find out more about your olecranon fracture, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals.
Coronoid process fracture
What is your injury?
It’s a break to a bone in your elbow.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Follow up
Most coronoid process fractures heal well with time. We’ll contact you by phone if you need further x-rays or follow up appointments. Some coronoid process fractures may need an operation to fix the bones together. If you do need surgery, a surgeon will discuss it with you. You can find out more about having an operation on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.
If you feel you need to see someone, you can book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please contact the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- you’re concerned about your symptoms
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you’re struggling with your sling
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow.
Wearing your sling
Wear your sling for comfort in the first 2 weeks. You can take it off to wash, dress and exercise. You don’t need to wear it at night.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly, so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a knife and fork for the first 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Regular exercise will prevent stiffness and help to recover movement.
Do these exercises for 6 weeks after your injury. Try to do them every hour. If this is too painful, start with 3 to 4 times a day and increase as pain allows. Taking your pain relief 30 minutes before you do your exercises can help as long as you don’t take them more often than prescribed.
Repeat each exercise 10 times.
- Open and close your hand. Next, move your wrist up and down.
- After a few days, hold a soft ball or a ball of socks. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. Hold for 5 seconds.
- Bend and straighten your elbow so you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Do not push into pain.
- Bend your elbow to 90 degrees. Slowly turn your palm up and down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to move it daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
After 6 to 12 weeks
Your fracture should now be healed.
You can gradually increase your day-to-day activities. Be guided by any pain or discomfort you may still have.
It’s normal to still have some mild discomfort. This may continue for 3 to 6 months.
Avoid lifting heavy objects and contact sports until 12 weeks after your injury.
More information
You can find out more about your coronoid process fracture, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals.
Elbow dislocation
What is your injury?
It’s a dislocation in your elbow. This means that you elbow came out of its joint and was not in the right place. You will have had help in the ED putting your elbow back in joint. The soft tissues and ligaments stabilising your elbow will have been stretched at the time of your injury.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Follow up
You will see a specialist in the Fracture Clinic 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. They will examine the stability of your elbow and will explain the next stage of your rehabilitation.
Some elbow dislocations will need an operation to realign the bones and/or repair the ligaments. If you do need surgery, a surgeon will discuss it with you. You can find out more about having an operation on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.
You can also book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- You haven’t heard from us about your follow up by 4 days after your injury
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you have any questions
- you’re struggling with your sling
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow.
Wearing your sling
Wear your sling in the day for comfort. You can take it off to wash, dress and to do your exercises.
Wearing your brace
If you’ve been given a brace:
- This video shows you how to put your Breg T-Scope Elbow Brace on.
- This video shows you how to put on your JAS EZ Elbow Brace.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a cup of tea for the first 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Try to do these exercises 4-5 times a day. Repeat each exercise 10 times.
Don’t forget to take your pain relief 30 minutes before you do your exercises.
Hand exercises
- Open and close your hand. Next, move your wrist up and down.
- After a few days, hold a soft ball/ball of socks. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. Hold for 5 seconds.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to move it daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
Elbow exercises
- Sit or stand with your elbow supported
- Keep your elbow by your side during the exercise
- Turn your palm up and then palm down.
Elbow Exercises with Shoulder Elevation
- Lie on your back
- Raise your injured arm so that your elbow points to the ceiling
- Support your elbow with your other hand
- Slowly straighten your arm to lift the hand in the air
- Gradually lower your hand back down to the pillow.
If you have a problem with your shoulder
You may not be able to move into this position. You can modify the exercise above to make it easier as follows.
- Lie on your back
- Rest your arm by your side
- Practice bending and straightening your elbow
- Keep your elbow and upper arm resting on the bed while you do this movement.
Elbow fracture dislocation
What is your injury?
It’s a dislocation with a break to a bone in your elbow. This means that you elbow came out of its joint and was not in the right place. You will have had help in the ED to put your elbow back in joint. The soft tissues and ligaments stabilising your elbow will have been stretched at the time of your injury. The break to your bone also makes this injury more complex.
Healing
It normally takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Follow up
You will see a specialist in the Fracture Clinic 1 to 2 weeks after your injury. They will examine the stability of your elbow and will explain the next stage of your rehabilitation.
You can also book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.
Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:
- You haven’t heard from us about your follow up by 4 days after your injury
- you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
- you have any questions
- you’re struggling with your sling
- you notice pain in an area other than your elbow.
Wearing your sling
Wear your sling in the day for comfort. You can take it off to wash, dress and to do your exercises.
Wearing your brace
If you’ve been given a brace:
- This video shows you how to put your Breg T-Scope Elbow Brace on.
- This video shows you how to put on your JAS EZ Elbow Brace.
Early movement and exercise
Elbows get stiff very quickly so it’s important to start the exercises below as soon as possible.
Avoid lifting anything more than the weight of a cup of tea for the first 6 weeks.
You can do light activities when your pain has settled.
Exercises
Try to do these exercises 4-5 times a day. Repeat each exercise 10 times.
Don’t forget to take your pain relief 30 minutes before you do your exercises.
Hand exercises
- Open and close your hand. Next, move your wrist up and down.
- After a few days, hold a soft ball/ball of socks. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. Hold for 5 seconds.
Moving your shoulder
You can move your shoulder as normal. Try to move it daily to help your shoulder stay mobile.
Moving your neck
It’s also important to stretch your neck muscles. Remove your sling and:
- look up
- look down
- look left
- look right
- look side to side.
Repeat this a few times every day.
Further exercises
ONLY do these exercises when told to do so by a member of the orthopaedic team.
Elbow exercises
- Sit or stand with your elbow supported
- Keep your elbow by your side during the exercise
- Turn your palm up and then palm down.
Elbow Exercises with Shoulder Elevation
- Lie on your back
- Raise your injured arm so that your elbow points to the ceiling
- Support your elbow with your other hand
- Slowly straighten your arm to lift the hand in the air
- Gradually lower your hand back down to the pillow.
If you have a problem with your shoulder
You may not be able to move into this position. You can modify the exercise above to make it easier as follows.
- Lie on your back
- Rest your arm by your side
- Practice bending and straightening your elbow
- Keep your elbow and upper arm resting on the bed while you do this movement.
Your sling and plaster cast
Using your sling
Wear your sling as instructed in the care plan for your injury below.
You can see more about how to fit your sling, and washing, dressing, sleeping and sitting with your sling in these videos.
If you’re struggling with your sling, please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 and we’ll be happy to give you advice.
If you’ve been given a plaster cast
For some elbow injuries the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) may fit you with a plaster cast. Keep this clean and dry. You can find out more about caring for your plaster cast here.
Preventing complications
Caring for your wound
If you’ve had an operation on your elbow, you’ll need to keep your stitches dry and clean. Look out for any redness or signs of swelling, bleeding or pus as these can be signs of an infection.
You can find information about how to care for your stitches, if/when they need to be removed and signs of an infection on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.
Blood clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Because your upper limb is immobilised and you’ll be moving less than normal, you’re at higher risk of developing a blood clot or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs most commonly in the leg, but can also happen in your arm or your tummy if that’s where the blood clot is. This can be life threatening if left untreated.
Symptoms of DVT in the leg are:
- throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh
- swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
- warm skin around the painful area
- red or darkened skin around the painful area
- swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them.
These symptoms can also happen in your arm or tummy if that’s where the blood clot is.
More information about DVT
- Watch this video about how to prevent DVT
- Learn more about DVT including symptoms, who is at risk and how to treat it on the NHS website
- Find out how to reduce the risk of blood clots when you have an immobilised lower limb (PDF, 108KB).
Pressure Sores and Ulcers
Wearing a plaster cast and not moving your limb can lead to pressure sores or ulcers. These are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure, rubbing or tension.
They often develop gradually, but can sometimes form in a few hours.
Signs and symptoms of a pressure sore include:
- skin discolouration – red patches for people with pale skin, purple or blue patches for people with dark skin
- discoloured patches that do not turn white when pressed
- a patch of skin that feels warm, spongy or hard
- pain or itchiness in the affected area.
More information about pressure sores and ulcers
- Watch this video about how to prevent pressure sores
- Read more about pressure sores on the NHS website
If you think you have a pressure sore or ulcer
Call the Fracture Clinic straight away on 01872 253091. For out of hours advice please call 01736 758909.
Sepsis
Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is a serious infection that can be life threatening. There is no one sign for sepsis so it can be hard to spot.
Call 111 immediately if you develop any of the following:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- It feels like you’re going to die
- Skin is mottled or discoloured.
Find out more about the symptoms of sepsis on the NHS website.
These videos also explain what Sepsis is and how to spot the early signs.
Living with your injury
Driving
Wait at least six weeks after your injury. After that, you can return to driving when:
- you have been told you no longer need your sling
- we’ve removed your cast (if you had one)
- you’re able to turn the steering wheel comfortably and without any pain
- you can control the vehicle safely
- you’ve checked it’s ok to drive with your insurance company.
Always test your ability to drive with the ignition off and in a safe environment.
If you have a follow up appointment with us, please wait until your consultant or physiotherapist has given you clearance to drive. If you are in any doubt, do not drive until you have spoken to our team.
Work
Decisions to return to work are made on a unique basis and should be discussed with the Fracture Clinic, your GP and your employer.
You may need time off work and when you return, you may need light or amended duties. When you should return to work will depend on your profession and your injury.
You can get a fitness to work statement or a sick note when you come into the Fracture Clinic. If you don’t need to come and see us, you can get one from your GP.
Sport
You should not do any sports for 6 to 12 weeks.
You must avoid contact sports and heavy lifting for 12 weeks.
