Traumatic elbow injuries in the athlete.

Abstract

Traumatic injuries to the elbow are not uncommon in the athlete. A fall onto the out-stretched arm may result in fracture of the radial head, dislocation of the elbow, or other injuries about the joint. Strength training and contact sports may cause rupture of the biceps or triceps tendon at the elbow. It is important for the sports medicine physician to become familiar with injury patterns about the elbow in athletes and treatment options. This article will be devoted to a summary of classification, diagnosis, and treatment considerations for selected traumatic athletic injuries of the elbow.