Elbow dislocations Experts in san antonio
What is an Elbow Dislocation?
An elbow dislocation happens when the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) are forced out of alignment with the upper arm bone (the humerus). The elbow joint becomes unstable and, in many cases, visibly deformed. It’s the second most commonly dislocated joint in adults, behind the shoulder.
common causes of Elbow dislocations:
Most elbow dislocations happen because of trauma, like:
Falling onto an outstretched arm
A direct blow during contact sports
Accidents at work or home
High-impact car or bike crashes
Sometimes, the joint pops out partially (subluxation) and moves back into place on its own. Other times, it's a full dislocation that needs emergency care.
How Elbow Dislocations Are Treated
Treatment depends on how severe the dislocation is. In many cases, a doctor will perform a joint reduction, which means gently moving the bones back into place. This should never be done at home, only by a trained medical professional.
Once the joint is back in place, imaging (like X-rays or an MRI) helps confirm there’s no fracture, ligament tear, or nerve damage. Treatment may include:
A short period of rest in a sling
Physical therapy to regain strength and motion
Surgery, if ligaments are torn or the joint is unstable.
It is essential to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of elbow disclocations. When non-surgical treatments are not effective, surgery may be the necessary option to properly align the bones and restore function to the shoulder joint.
When to See a Hand and Elbow Specialist
After an initial injury is treated, it’s a good idea to follow up with a hand and elbow specialist, especially if:
You’re still having pain, stiffness, or weakness
You’ve lost range of motion in the joint
You had a complex or severe dislocation
You’re an athlete or someone who needs full elbow function for work
We help patients throughout San Antonio and the surrounding areas get back to daily life with less pain and more confidence.
why come to The Hand and Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio for Elbow dislocations?
When you visit us at The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio, you will find a fine-tuned team ready to take care of you. Our physicians bring over 100 years of collective experience and represent multiple generations and training backgrounds, allowing us to treat a wide range of conditions, including elbow fractures, elbow dislocations, and other complex upper extremity injuries. In addition to your surgeons, you may meet one of our hand surgery fellows. Each fellow is a fully trained orthopedic or plastic surgeon who has completed five to seven years of surgical training after medical school and has chosen to pursue an additional year of advanced training focused on hand and upper extremity care. Beyond our physicians, you will be supported by a dedicated team of staff members. From our front desk staff and medical assistants to our X-ray and cast technicians, everyone is committed to your comfort and to providing a seamless treatment experience as you recover from an elbow fracture, dislocation, or other upper extremity injury.
Meet Our Physicians
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David P. Green, M.D.
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Mark Bagg, M.D.
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David W. Person, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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Ramesh C. Srinivasan, M.D.
Elbow Related Issues we can help with
Elbow Stiffness
Heterotopic Ossification
check out our latest blog posts regarding Elbow injuries
Did you know we have in-house Therapy for Elbow Dislocation Recovery?
Hand therapy is a merging of occupational and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the structure of the upper limb with function and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment, planning and treatment, hand therapists provide therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction, restore function and/or reverse the progression of pathology of the upper limb in order to enhance an individual’s ability to execute tasks and to participate fully in life situations.
