General information
The elbow joint consists of three components, the humerus, the ulna and the radius. Here, bending and stretching movements can be carried out, but rotating movements of the forearm are also possible. The elbow joint is surrounded by a taut joint capsule.
In addition, it is stabilized by many muscles that extend from the upper arm to the forearm, and by some ligaments. Movements that exceed the normal range of motion may damage the elbow joint or one of its components. As with other joints, injuries to the ligaments, such as torn ligaments, can occur.
Causes
A torn ligament in the elbow often occurs in conjunction with a dislocation of the joint. This requires a strong force to be applied to the elbow joint, moving the forearm and upper arm in different directions. A torn ligament occurs when the ligament is stretched beyond the normal range of motion. This is often the case in sports when fast, jerky movements are performed, or when there is a violent impact on the joint, for example when kicking against it or in an accident. It is usually a combination of stretching and twisting movements that lead to a torn ligament.
Symptoms
A torn ligament is usually immediately noticeable by severe pain. As a rule, the affected person notices immediately that something is wrong. Afterwards, swelling of the joint usually occurs quickly. If the elbow is also dislocated (elbow dislocation), then the joint is abnormally mobile. It is also possible that a bruise forms around the affected joint if vessels are damaged by the injury mechanism.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a torn ligament in the elbow joint must be made by a doctor, for example an orthopaedic surgeon. If there is any suspicion, an X-ray examination is usually performed to detect or rule out possible bone fractures. In addition, the doctor carries out various functional tests by moving the arm in different directions to get an overview of the overall situation.
Performing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be useful if a torn ligament cannot be clearly detected or excluded by the tests. In this case, soft tissue in particular, including ligaments, can be displayed very well and a possible tear can be detected. Possibly damaged structures such as muscles, bursae and blood vessels can also be detected on the MRI images.
Treatment
In the case of a torn ligament in general, if it is a sports injury, a sports break should be taken immediately. It is important to cool the joint to keep the swelling as low as possible. Ice cubes or a cooling compress, which is wrapped in a cloth beforehand to prevent frostbite, are particularly suitable here.
Cold water can also be used to cool the joint quickly. Next, a compression bandage should be applied to prevent further swelling of the joint. It is also helpful to position the joint high up so that not too much blood flows in.
In any case, if a torn ligament is suspected, a doctor should be consulted to make the appropriate diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. In most cases, if a torn ligament is suspected, the joint is immobilised for 4 to 6 weeks and must not be subjected to stress. Afterwards, light weight training may be started.
The elbow should also be cooled regularly while the joint is immobilised. The treatment also depends on the accompanying symptoms. For example, if the elbow is dislocated, it must first be returned to its original position (reduction).
A light anaesthetic may be necessary for this. If there is damage to the bones in addition to the torn ligament, the fracture must also be treated and surgery may be necessary. This must be decided according to the extent of the injury.
Since a large number of nerves and blood vessels run close to the elbow joint, it is possible that these too have been damaged in the event of a torn ligament, especially if it has been torn as a result of the use of force. The so-called nervus ulnaris runs directly below the elbow from the elbow to the hand and supplies both the forearm and finger muscles. If this nerve is damaged, this manifests itself as muscle weakness and sensory disturbances affecting the forearm on the side of the ulna and the hand. In addition, despite a healed injury, the joint may remain unstable. Depending on how pronounced this is, an operation to restore stability should be considered.
