Elbow injury due to hyperextension (I think) (radial head fracture)

by George
(Massachusetts)

While not directly a result of a sports activity, this injury may affect my recreational sporting-- golf, fishing, paddling etc.

I am a 58y/o male. A few days ago I caught a bundle of sheetrock-- two sheets-- by the edge as it dropped about two feet into my left hand. I believe it snapped my arm straight. There was no contact against my elbow, but it felt as if the edge had landed directly on the inside of my elbow joint.

There was no extreme pain but I experienced immediate discomfort and loss of full contraction or extension without great discomfort. It was x-rayed the next day and a small fracture of the radial head was noted. Swelling and bruising appeared along the ulnar side of the arm from the elbow to about 3" above the wrist and it is very uncomfortable (tight and painful) when I rotate my left hand from a flat position, palm down, on a table so that the thumb is raised to a palm-up position.

I iced it the first day or so and was put in a sling by my doctor. It is now very tender to the touch at the point where I imagine the ulnar collateral ligament attaches (medial side). Also the bruising extends about 3" above the elbow joint on the med side with tenderness in this area

Are you familiar with this type of injury? What should I do? I plan a follow-up visit for further x-rays. Is this a common injury? Should I expect a quick recovery?

I am very appreciative of anything you might tell me.

Comments for
Elbow injury due to hyperextension (I think) (radial head fracture)

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 07, 2008
Rating

Ice, rest, and patience...
by: Bart - SII

George - sorry to hear about your injury. It sounds like you probably suffered some muscle strain as well as the radial head fracture.

The pain you get with rotating your palm up is most likely due to the fracture - when you rotate your palm, the radial head rotates within the socket of the elbow. This motion also stresses the muscles of the forearm - which you most likely injured when you caught the sheet rock.

Whether you injured the UCL or the flexor muscles, the soft tissue injury should heal well over the next few weeks - the radial head fracture will probably take 4-6 weeks to heal - so I would follow your physicians recommendations with regards to wearing the sling and your activity levels.

You may have some motion loss as your fracture heals, and some type of rehabilitation after you are healed may be beneficial.

It is hard to put a time frame on how long this could take to heal, but I would guess somewhere between 2-3 months.

Hope this helps - comment back if you have other questions.

Jul 14, 2008
Rating

update
by: George

Thanks for the prompt reply. In a follow-up visit with an orthopedic specialist, I was assured that my ligaments and tendons are intact, but that I have most likely suffered a muscle tear, which will heal best if I maintain full use and motion of my arm, rather than supporting it in a sling, which can do more damage to the shoulder joint through inactivity. I'm concerned because the distal body of my biceps appears to be much smaller where the apparent tear is, but I'm assuming this will regain it's shape as the muscle repairs--- another question for the next follow-up. I'll keep you posted-- and again, thanks for the quick and caring reply.

Feb 25, 2009
Rating

similar Injury
by: Anonymous

I sustained a similiar injury to yours and was given pretty much the same instruction for recovery.
I was in a sling for a short time when it was first seen as a stress fracture in my ulna, then during an MRI muscle tear was shown.
So, I worked with therapy bands for a while, still trying to rest and do no heavy lifting. I am a big sports enthusiast, so it was hard not to be able to play sports. I would say my injury was pretty relevant for about 2 1/2 months. Now, even 10 months later I still feel pain in that area from over use. So, take time to heal properly and do as much rehab as possible after recoery to streghten those muscles back.
Best of Luck for recovery.

Mar 11, 2009
Rating

NEED ADVICE ON FRACTURE
by: BRUCEMAN

I HAD A SLIP ON THE ICE, DID GET A RADIAL FRACTURE. BUT THEY MISSED IT ON X-RAY..THEN GOT A C SCAN TWO DAYS LATER MISSED IT AGAIN...I WENT TO PT FOR 5 WEEKS.. DOCTOR SAID SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT...ORDERED MRI AND FOUND THE FRACTURE..HOW COULD IT TAKE 3 TRIES TO FIND THE PROBLEM>>>HELP STILL IN PAIN HAPPENED 12-13-08 NOW IT IS 3-11-09. THANK YOU BRUCE

Mar 12, 2009
Rating

recent fracture
by: Anonymous

i suffered a radial head fracture from a fall earlier this week. er doc found it on the xray, put me in a fiberglass splint with a sling, gave me pains meds and told me to followup with ortho doc. saw ortho doc 2 days later, more xrays which were painful to do, said if was a very difficult to see fracture but it is there. removed the fiberglass splint and sling and started me doing strengthening exercises immediately. hurt so bad i thought i was going to throw up from the pain... 24 hours later i am feeling a lot better. found i could do the exercises while lying in the tub without as much discomfort. there is something to be said or hydrotherapy. i was given execises to do on my own; no scheduled PT outside of that and return in 3 weeks. i will feel like i've accomplished something when i can get the fork back to my mouth again!! i have heard that some radial head fracture do not show up on xrays for 3 weeks.

Apr 02, 2009
Rating

Bi lateral Radial head fracture
by: Anonymous

I am a 54 year old female who has suffered a bilateral radial head facture with my right being much worse than my left, during a trip and fall on a concrete patio. I had immediate pain in both wrists and elbows. Fractures showed up on x-rays at ER and right arm was splinted and both arms were put into slings with instructions to see Orthopedic doctor ASAP. Ortho doctor evaluated x-rays and removed the sling from my left arm and told me to start using it as much as I could. Right required a CT Scan to determine severity of the fracture. CT Scan came back good and doctor removed splint, gave me pain meds and told me to start therapy three times a week for 2-1/2hrs a day plus do excersises. It has been four months of therapy and my left arm has full range of motion and other than muscle stiffness and occassional pain is pretty normal. My right however has approximately 80% of movement both extension and flexion and doctor feels that further therapy will not gain much. Living with the limitation for now to see how my life is affected. Looking at possiblity of orthroscopic surgery on my right elbow and more therapy to improve motion. Not ready for anyone to cut on me yet.

Sep 02, 2009
Rating

I feel your pain!
by: Pam

George,
Sorry to hear about your injury. It is definitely painful. I am currently recovering from a radial head fracture also. It has been 7 weeks. I have been working hard at home doing exercises to regain full extension. I have reached that. Still working on full flexion. I can touch my shoulder now but still painful. I did not go to a therapist. I figured I can exercise at home and not have to pay someone to watch. My orthopedist says the bone is not fully healed from the last x-ray at 7 weeks. I am to continue exercising and being very careful--no lifting with the arm. I go back in a month for another x-ray. Hoping the bone will show fully healed by then. I still have aching on the inside of the elbow and down the arm toward the wrist depending on what I've been doing. Good luck to you for a full recovery. Remember, no pain no gain. It does hurt to get the joint loose again.

Sep 02, 2009
Rating

Sep 09, 2009
Rating

Radial Head Fracture
by: Lynne

I suffered a radial head fracture to my right elbow 3.5wks ago from a fall off my bicycle, for a wk i was sure it was just a badly sprained and bruised elbow as did not swell up but i could not straighten my elbow and was in a lot of pain, when i eventually visited hospital a wk later after hearing and feeling clicking in my forarm and being in excruciating pain it was xrayed and i was told it was a radial head fracture and was put in foam sling for 2 wks and told that i would be referred for physiotherapy. I returned to hospital yesterday for my follow up appointment and consultant just looked at my arm and instructed me to do excercises. I was dismayed that i was not sent for a follow up xray as i am still in a lot of pain and would have liked to have had the chance to compare the two xrays for my own peace of mind. When i asked about referral for physio i was told that i had been told verbally what excercises i needed to do and that i didn't need to go for physio. I was told they would not need to see me at hospital again. I feel totally let down by our NHS and feel that i should not have been discharged so soon. Anyone else had similar experience?

Sep 09, 2009
Rating

Sep 22, 2009
Rating

radial head fracture
by: connie

I am a 57 year old female and fell Friday, had x-rays of my right arm which revealed minimally displaced radial head fracture. I was put in a sling, prescribed vicodin and told to follow up with orthopedist. Yesterday had apt., today he is sending me for a CT T today, talked to me about surgery and putting in 2 pins has anyone had this surgery or know anything about it?
thanks

Oct 08, 2009
Rating

radial head fracture
by: Lisa

I fell on a wet floor on April 2, 2009 and fractured my right radial head. I was put in a sling for two weeks. It was the most excruciating pain I had ever experienced.

After six weeks I started physical therapy. I have had two sessions of PT for 12 weeks. Although somewhat better, I have severe pain across my forearm and in my bicep area still.

I have lost 20 degrees of extension and 10 degrees of flexion. I am not ready to settle for these results.

It has been almost 6 months since I broke it and I just dont think it should still be so painful. Going to orthopaedic doctors again tomorrow for some answers.

Oct 15, 2009
Rating

radial head fracture left arm
by: tj

I fell on my left arm I tried to stop my fall.. (Sept 26) palm of hand was bruised turned black, then fell again...I use to be a good athlete...oh well, elbow was black and blue. I continued to work for 2 weeks. pain was very bad when tuking in my shirt. went for xrays..broken radial head. I was put into a splint and I am now off work..going crazy with nothing to do.. no lifting. I go back in 2 weeks. I hope that this will heal fast. I was told to do small exercises when I take off the splint. does anyone have any suggestions on how long does it take to heal...should I still do exercises when popping noise occurs when rotating arm palm up palm down motion..or will this help in long run.
thanks for time
tj

Oct 15, 2009
Rating

Follow up to my post of March 15
by: Anonymous

Well it has been 7 months now. I have full use of my elbow. I immediately begain doing exercises the WEEK I broke it. It helped to do them while in the bathtub under the water. So if anyone has access to water therapy; it works great. I still have trouble when I vaccuum or turn my arm a certain way. It will hurt and I am fearful of it breaking again. I imagine arthritis will or has developed and that will cause pain at certain times. Good luck to all who are just now going through this..it does get better in time.

Oct 20, 2009
Rating

RHF with surgery
by: Anonymous

I suffered a radial head fracture while trail running. Used a sling for 10days as per order from ER, then saw an orthopedic dr. He ordered a CT scan and from this decided that surgery was necessary. Two sc rews wre put in to line up the bone and prevent problems later such as arthritis. That was a week ago, today is exactly one month since the accident. I am still in pain, and frustrated with the splint. I get the stitches out in a few days and will start PT soon. It's good to hear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and just want full use of my arm back!

Nov 18, 2009
Rating

Radial Head Fracture/Sheared Capitellum
by: Anonymous

Connie, I had procedure you mention two weeks after you posted. Radial head fracture with sheared capitellum (bone displacement). The displaced bone (along with the cartilage attached to it) were reattached using two absorbable screws or pins. This left a four inch cut on the arm. As an avid canoer, I was very worried about permanent effects of the break. At first I could barely bend the arm at the elbow - my min/max range of motion was between 60/90 degrees from full extension. I gradually decreased the amount of time spent wearing the sling over the first week and a half, trying to extend the arm but not pushing it hard at all. At around nine days I returned to the Ortho and was re-x-rayed. All was well and he told me to spend time stretching the arm using gravity; hold the arm straight out from the shoulder and let gravity pull the forearm down for a minute(works best on the arm of a chair), then bend the forearm back towards the shoulder for another minute. I began to "push" the forearm in both directions for the next four weeks, slowly gaining more and more motion. I tried to take it slow, maybe stretching for 5 minutes 5-6 times a day. I wanted to force it more but was worried about causing damage. Went back at six weeks and got another x-ray. Probably had motion from 10 degrees to 120-130 degrees. I could barely touch my shoulder with my thumb if I twisted my wrist the right way. He told me it was sufficiently healed to start being more much agressive with my range of motion exercises, but wasn't quite ready to start any weight training. I began to seriously stretch out the arm; at first there were a lot of small popping noises(the doctor told me that skin does this some time?) but they went away as I worked it more. When the foream is pushed really hard it starts to shake and does hurt pretty good, but I am definitely seeing improvement after only 2 days since I really started pushing it. I feel confident that I will be able to regain full motion in the elbow. Hope this helps anyone else considering this surgery.

X Close Editor

Nov 18, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Anonymous

Title

Comment
Connie, I had procedure you mention two weeks after you posted. Radial head fracture with sheared capitellum (bone displacement). The displaced bone (along with the cartilage attached to it) were reattached using two absorbable screws or pins. This left a four inch cut on the arm. As an avid canoer, I was very worried about permanent effects of the break. At first I could barely bend the arm at the elbow - my min/max range of motion was between 60/90 degrees from full extension. I gradually decreased the amount of time spent wearing the sling over the first week and a half, trying to extend the arm but not pushing it hard at all. At around nine days I returned to the Ortho and was re-x-rayed. All was well and he told me to spend time stretching the arm using gravity; hold the arm straight out from the shoulder and let gravity pull the forearm down for a minute(works best on the arm of a chair), then bend the forearm back towards the shoulder for another minute. I began to "push" the forearm in both directions for the next four weeks, slowly gaining more and more motion. I tried to take it slow, maybe stretching for 5 minutes 5-6 times a day. I wanted to force it more but was worried about causing damage. Went back at six weeks and got another x-ray. Probably had motion from 10 degrees to 120-130 degrees. I could barely touch my shoulder with my thumb if I twisted my wrist the right way. He told me it was sufficiently healed to start being more much agressive with my range of motion exercises, but wasn't quite ready to start any weight training. I began to seriously stretch out the arm; at first there were a lot of small popping noises(the doctor told me that skin does this some time?) but they went away as I worked it more. When the foream is pushed really hard it starts to shake and does hurt pretty good, but I am definitely seeing improvement after only 2 days since I really started pushing it. I feel confident that I will be able to regain full motion in the elbow. Hope this helps anyone else considering this surgery.

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Feb 17, 2010
Rating

Fractured radial head left Elbow
by: Sue

I fell off a horse 3 weeks ago, I landed on my outsreached hands, i badly dislocated my finger and fractured my radial head on my left elbow. I was advised to wear a sling for 10 days. My elbow is still very painful especially at night.As I have MS I thought it may be worse but it seems that I am experiencing the same pain as everyone else. I think you should start Physio as soon as poss.

Feb 22, 2010
Rating

Radial head fracture
by: Saurabh

Hi,

I had a displaced radial head fracture 4 months back and I was told that I would never regain full ROM. But I did not want to settle for this and I decided to go for aggressive physio for 2 weeks. It is quite painful and hence demotivating but the results were great! I used to go to physio everyday and at home I used to do hydrotherapy (stuck my elbow under hot water and exercise)twice a day. I gained my full ROM within 10 sessions of physio.
A lot depends on the physiotherapist.

All the best to all of you guys.

Mar 08, 2010
Rating

I had something very similar happen before
by: Curtis

Well I fell during gym class and my elbow bent the wrong way, I had a radial head fracture, im 14 and it took me 6 weeks to be able to go snowboarding again, so it takes a while.