Elbow care
Elbow injuries in active people
The elbow can be injured in many ways. This section focuses on two areas Dr. Blackwell treats — distal biceps tendon injuries, and complex elbow fracture-dislocations such as the terrible-triad pattern, including radial-head fractures and when a radial-head replacement is considered. These are not the only causes of elbow pain, so an accurate diagnosis comes first.
Elbow pain and injury can come from tendons, ligaments, the joint surfaces, or the bones — and a serious injury can involve several of these at once. Because different problems can cause similar symptoms, an accurate diagnosis matters before treatment is chosen.
This section covers two areas in detail: distal biceps tendon injuries, and complex elbow fracture-dislocations (including the terrible-triad pattern and radial-head fractures). They do not represent every cause of elbow pain — if your symptoms point elsewhere, they are evaluated on their own terms. The topics below give a path into more detailed education for each.
Elbow topics
Find the area closest to what you're experiencing.
- Distal biceps tendon injuriesInjuries of the biceps tendon where it attaches to the forearm at the elbow — from tendinopathy and partial tears to a complete tear — felt as pain, weakness, and sometimes a change in the arm's contour.
- Complex elbow fracture-dislocationsSerious injuries where the elbow dislocates and breaks at the same time — including the terrible-triad pattern (dislocation with radial-head and coronoid fractures) and radial-head fractures that may need fixation or replacement.
Next step
Have an elbow injury you want to understand?
If you have ongoing elbow pain, or an injury you want evaluated, you can request an appointment to talk through what's happening and your options. A serious elbow injury — an obvious deformity, an inability to move the elbow, numbness or a cold or pale hand, or a wound over a possible fracture — needs urgent in-person care. This website is not monitored for emergencies; for a medical emergency, call 911.