MSK Examination - Elbow

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

you know this

Question 2

What posture do you want the patient to be in before you inspect.

Answer 2

Anatomical position standing up

Question 3

What are you looking at?

Answer 3

Medial, lateral, anterior and posterior aspects of the joint
For - scars, swellings sinuses, rheumatoid modules or olecranon bursitis, muscle wasting, discolouration of bruising
Any deformity
Note the carrying angle, should be 5* to 15*

Question 4

Feel - what are you palpating for?

Answer 4

WHILE LOOKING AT PATIENTS FACE

• feel the temp of the upper arm, elbow and forearm
• palpate for tenderness and swellings of medial and lateral epicondyles, olecranon process and radial head

Question 5

Movement - active?

Answer 5

Flexion - ask patient to touch shoulder with their fingers
Extension - check for full extension in anatomical position (0* angle at elbow)
Supination and pronation - Elbow flexed to 90* ask patient to turn hands up to ceiling and the down to the floor, may be good to get them to hold a pencil to easier assess degree of rotation

Question 6

Movement - passive?

Answer 6

Repeat all movements passively while feeling for crepitus

During pronation and supination feel over radial head with thumb

Question 7

How to assess function?

Answer 7

Can they put hand to mouth for feeding