Healing Elbow Fractures in Northern California

An elbow fracture is when one or more of the bones in the elbow joint are broken. When the pressure on a bone exceeds its ability to withstand it, a fracture may occur. Fractures can be complete or partial breaks. The main cause of elbow fracture is trauma. These injuries can happen during a car accident, playing sports, or from a fall. Overuse or repetitive motions can also lead to hairline (stress) fractures.

All fractures require medical treatment. Seek immediate medical attention or dial 911 if major injury or trauma is involved. Dignity Health North State emergency doctors and nurses work with our skilled orthopedic team to treat elbow fractures in Northern California with personal care. If you need to go to the ER, use InQuicker, our ER waiting service, to select your estimated arrival time at North State hospitals:

• Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta
• Mercy Medical Center Redding
• St. Elizabeth Hospital

Elbow Fracture Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of an elbow fracture can include:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Deformity
• Difficulty moving the arm
• Popping or grinding noise during injury

Expert Elbow Fracture Treatment at Dignity Health North State

When you come to a Dignity Health North State hospital with a broken elbow, your treatment options will depend on the severity of the break and your risk factors. In all fracture cases, our treatment goals are healing the bone, preventing future fractures, and relieving pain.

For a simple break, one of our skilled orthopedic surgeons may be able to set the bone(s) without surgery and apply a cast or splint. In more severe cases, elbow surgery is necessary to secure the bones with pins, screws, and metal plates.

Most elbow fractures will heal within two months. However, some may require more time to heal, as well as rehabilitation. The orthopedic team at Dignity Health North State will help you through every step of your elbow fracture treatment.

Dignity Health North State’s skilled orthopedic surgeons provide expert, personalized treatment for elbow fractures in Mt. Shasta, Red Bluff, and Redding, CA.