Elbow Sprain

What is an elbow sprain?

An elbow sprain is an injury that causes a stretch or tear of one or more of the ligaments in the elbow joint. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones at the joint.

Sprains may be graded 1, 2, or 3 depending on their severity:

• grade 1 sprain: pain with minimal damage to the ligaments
• grade 2 sprain: mild ligament damage and mild looseness of the joint
• grade 3 sprain: complete tearing of the ligament, and the joint is very loose or unstable

Sometimes sprains are just classified as mild moderate or severe, depending on the amount of ligament damage.

How does it occur?

An elbow sprain can occur from a fall onto your elbow or onto your outstretched arm. It may also happen if your arm and elbow is twisted or hyperextended.

What are the symptoms?

You will have pain, swelling and difficulty bending and straightening your elbow and rotating your forearm. Your elbow will be tender to touch.

How is it diagnosed?

Your provider will review your symptoms, ask you how the injury occurred and examine your elbow. He or she may order an X-ray.

How is it treated?

An elbow sprain is treated with a sling to keep the elbow from moving while it is painful and swollen. Sometimes a splint is used. You should apply ice packs to your elbow for 20 to 30 minutes 3-4 times day for 2 to 3 days or until the pain and swelling goes away. You can put the ice packs in the sling. You should sleep with your elbow elevated on a pillow. You can take an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen, or another medication prescribed by your provider. You will be given rehabilitation exercises by your provider. If severe ligament damage has occurred, surgery may be needed.

How long will the effects last?

The effects of an elbow sprain usually last 3 to 6 weeks.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Return to your activities will be determined by how soon your elbow recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury has occurred. The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your normal activities as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury.

You may return to your activities when your elbow has full range of motion without pain and has the same strength as the uninjured side.

Written by Pierre Rouzier, MD.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.