Elbow Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Your elbow joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the elbow joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have elbow problems.

Many things can make your elbow hurt. A common cause is tendinitis, an inflammation or injury to the tendons that attach muscle to bone. Tendinitis of the elbow is a sports injury, often from playing tennis or golf. You may also get tendinitis from overuse of the elbow.

Other causes of elbow pain include sprains and strains, fractures (broken bones), dislocations, bursitis, and arthritis. Treatment depends on the cause.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Treatments and Therapies

• About Hand Surgery American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Hand Surgery Anesthesia American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Joint and Soft Tissue Injections American Academy of Family Physicians

Find an Expert

• American Society for Surgery of the Hand American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Find a Hand Surgeon American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Arm MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Elbow replacement – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Tennis elbow surgery – discharge Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America
• Direct Arthrography Radiological Society of North America
• Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems American Academy of Family Physicians
• X-Ray Exam: Elbow Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Elbow Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Tennis Elbow National Institutes of Health

Specifics

• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Elbow Fractures American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Golfer’s Elbow Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Osteochondritis Dissecans American Academy of Family Physicians
• Repetitive Motion Disorders National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Tennis Elbow Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Elbow (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Start Here

• Elbow Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Patient Handouts

• Elbow pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Elbow replacement Medical Encyclopedia
• Elbow sprain — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Medial epicondylitis – golfer’s elbow Medical Encyclopedia
• Nursemaid’s elbow Medical Encyclopedia
• Tennis elbow Medical Encyclopedia
• Tennis elbow surgery Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Osteochondritis Dissecans (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Elbow Injuries and Disorders