الفهرس 
Anatomy of the Elbow JointOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Overuse injuries of the elbow commonly occur in both the
athletic and lay population. the elbow joint is a common site of
injury in the overhead athlete, due to the repetitive
microtraumatic injuries observed during the act of throwing.
These injuries involve a wide spectrum of disorders, including
tendinopathies, tendon ruptures, nerve entrapments,
osteochondral lesions, and stress fractures. A detailed physical
examination is necessary to define the area or structure that is
injured and should include not just the involved extremity, but
also the entire body.
Tennis elbow, or lateral tendinosis (epicondylitis), is or
fairly common elbow disorder. There are a variety of
nonoperative measures that have been used to treat the
disorder—each with some success. Most surgeons initially
attempt one of more of these measures to see if the patient‘s
symptoms improve. Given enough time, symptoms resolve in
most patients. For patients who don‘t have resolution of the
disease, surgery is an option. Excellent results have been
reported with open, arthroscopic and percutaneous techniques.
Summary
116
The ulnar collateral ligament is commonly injured;
however, injury may not always be manifest by gross laxity or
pain at the ligament. The athlete who has UCL injury may
present with symptoms related to secondary overload of other
areas about the elbow accentuated by UCL laxity, such as
medial epicondylitis, ulnar neuritis, lateral elbow pain due to
radiocapitellar overload, posterior elbow pain due to valgus
extension overload, or loose bodies. The soft tissues about the
elbow are placed under tremendous loads with each throw. This
leads to bone and soft-tissues adaptive changes (such as
ligamentous laxity, muscular hypertrophy and neural fibrosis)
that increase the risk of entrapment neuropathies about the
elbow. The broad spectrum of neuropathies that can occur are
usually responsive to nonsurgical management, but this is varies
with the nerve involved. If appropriate nonoperative treatment
has failed, the authors advocate an aggressive approach to
surgical release in the competitive thrower who cannot continue
to perform at the desired level.
Recurrent and persistent instability of the elbow has long
been a source of confusion and dismay for both patients and
physicians. Early recognition after elbow injury and careful
attention to soft tissue repair during lateral elbow surgery may
diminish the incidence of this condition.
Summary
117
Biceps and triceps tendon ruptures at the level of the elbow
are rare events. Early recognition and prompt surgical repair
provide the most predictable, optimal results for complete
injuries.
Rehabilitation of the elbow, whether postinjury or
postsurgical, must follow a progressive and sequential order to
ensure that healing tissues are not overstressed. A rehabilitation
program that limits immobilization, achieves full range of
motion early, progressively restores strength and neuromuscular
control, and gradually incorporates sport-specific activities is
essential to successfully return athletes to their previous levels
of competitions as quickly and softly as possible.