Elbow pain is a common complaint and can be caused by disorders ranging from degenerative to traumatic. A thorough evaluation by an orthopaedist is the first step in making an accurate diagnosis and instituting an effective treatment regime.

One of the most common causes of elbow pain is lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. Despite what the name implies, this disorder is not restricted to those who play racket sports. In fact, it can occurr at any age and is usually the result of some repetitive activity (e.g. hammering) It is a degenerative disorder of the forearm tendons, and manifests itself as pain over the outside (lateral) of the elbow seen with lifting or gripping objects.

Olecranon bursitisis is an inflammatory condition characterized by localized swelling over the tip of the elbow (olecraonon). It can occurr as the result of chronic irritation or direct trauma. Although in many cases it may be nothing more than an unsightly nuisance, on occasion it can become infected becoming red and painful, and may require urgent surgical drainage.

Compression of the ulnar nerve("funny bone") as it passes behind the elbow can lead to numbness and tingling in the ring and small finger. In severe cases, weakness in the muscles of the hand resulting in motor disfunction can result. Treatment includes; activity modification, splinting, corticosteroid injections and in some cases, surgical exploration and decompression.

Although far less common than arthritis of the knee, hip, or shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the elbow is usually seen in middle aged men with a history of physical labor or intense weight resistance acitvities. It can have a range of presentations, form dull pain with activitity to severely debilitating pain and extreme loss of motion. Treatments range from the conservative(oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) to the more invasive such as arthroscopic debridement or total elbow replacement.

Elbow fractures are usually the result of some sort of traumatic event like a fall or direct blow. Fortunately, not all elbow fractures require surgery but an evaluation by an orthopaedist is the first step down the road to recovery.