Orthopedic Elbow Surgery

The elbow is a complex joint that gives a person the ability to move his hand in a wide range of motion. For a patient who has lost motion and flexibility in the elbow, orthopedic elbow surgery can provide relief.

Purpose

• Orthopedic elbow surgery fixes issues such as tennis elbow, torn ligaments in the elbow and to repair fractures to the head of the radial bone, according to "Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopedics."

Types

• An orthopedic surgeon performs orthopedic elbow surgery. It can be open, with a full incision, or performed arthroscopically.

Recovery

• Recovery from orthopedic elbow surgery depends on the type of surgery performed. Open surgery can require four to six months of recovery time, while arthroscopic surgery requires less.

Complications

• Orthopedic surgeons take care to avoid the ulnar nerve during elbow surgery. It is the nerve most at risk for damage during the procedure.

Considerations

• Patients who are overweight or who have had previous surgeries on the elbow are at a greater risk for experiencing complications during orthopedic surgery.