Elbow

Question 1

What is the normal carrying angle of the elbow?

Answer 1

5-15 degrees

Question 2

What do you check for when observing the elbow?

Answer 2

Bumps/Bruises/Redness/Scars/Swelling/Muscle Wasting/Discoloration/Alignment

Question 3

Where do you palpate on an elbow?

Answer 3

ANTERIOR – Antecubital Space Distal biceps tendon

LATERAL – Lat epicondyle – common extensor tendon – tennis elbow
POSTERIOR – Olecranon
MEDIAL – Medial Epicondyle – site of common flexor tendon (Golfers elbow Teres) Cubital Tunnel (ulnar nerve compression site)

Question 4

What are potential causes if you see any anomolies in observation?

Answer 4

Dislocation, Fracture, Instability issue can all affect Carrying angle or present with bumps, bruises. Swelling – very obvious with Olec Bursitis

Question 5

What are the Ranges of Motion of an elbow?

Answer 5

Flexion, extension, Supination and Pronation

Question 6

What are normal ROM degrees for elbow flexion?

Answer 6

130-150 degrees

Question 7

What are the normal ROM degrees for elbow extension?

Answer 7

-6-10 degrees

Question 8

What are the normal ROM degrees for elbow pronation?

Answer 8

75-80 degrees

Question 9

What are the normal ROM degrees for elbow supination?

Answer 9

80-104 degrees

Question 10

What is the common name for an elbow injury that occurs in young children?

Answer 10

Toddler’s elbow

Question 11

What is Toddler’s elbow?

Answer 11

radial head subluxation - annular ligament gets stuck in the joint space

Question 12

What are the elbow special tests?

Answer 12

Valgus and Varus ligamentous stress tests

Question 13

How is the patient/dr positioned when performing a valgus/varus test?

Answer 13

Patient lying down - put elbow in around 30 degrees of flexion. Stabilise this with putting their arm close to your ribcage under clinicians arm and this keeps it stabilised so you can use both hands.

Question 14

Which direction does valgus force move?

Answer 14

Force moves lateral to medial

Question 15

What direction does varus force move?

Answer 15

Force moves medial to lateral

Question 16

How do you perform valgus test?

Answer 16

Place the patient’s hand under your arm and close to rib cage in 30 degrees of flexion.
With that arm, stabilise just above the elbow and with the other hand, open pact, push the elbow lateral to medial.

Question 17

How do you perform a varus test?

Answer 17

Swap hands to valgus - stabilise under the elbow, closer to the wrist and push with open hand medial to lateral just above the elbow itself

Question 18

How do you perform medial posterior rotation?

Answer 18

Keep patient in the same position as you would a valgus/varus test. Stabilise the humerus and then hold just above the elbow with other hand (thumb down, fingers underneath)
Movement is moving the upper part of the forearm medially

Question 19

How do you perform lateral posterior rotation?

Answer 19

Keep patient in the same position as you would a valgus/varus test and medial posterior rotation. Movement is the opposite direction to medial posterior, performing this laterally.

Question 20

What would there be for Medial instability to be an entity?

Answer 20

Significant injury - bone injury