Why is an elbow surgery important?

Our elbows play an important role in most of the activities and functions we perform on a day-to-day basis. So, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that your elbow may be prone to injury over the years. Suddenly you may notice that certain tasks that you used to perform are now painful or more difficult. You may also notice persistent irritation or limited mobility. Everything from bursitis and osteoarthritis to certain injuries can affect the elbow, and it’s important to recognize when it may be time to consider surgery.

What conditions may require elbow surgery?

There are certain diseases, disorders and injuries that can be effectively treated by our orthopedic surgical team without the need for surgery; however, there are other problems that require surgery in order to fully restore functionality and mobility back into the elbow. Conditions that may require elbow surgery include,

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Bursitis
• Tennis or golfer’s elbow
• Osteochondritis dissecans (OD)

What are the most common types of elbow surgeries?

Many of the elbow surgeries that Dr. Martusiewicz performs are arthroscopic, meaning that smaller incisions are made to the elbow to treat the problem. Arthroscopic elbow surgeries also mean fewer side effects and complications, as well as a faster recovery.

The most common types of elbow surgeries that we perform include,

Surgical debridement

This procedure can be used to treat problems such as osteochondritis dissecans or osteoarthritis in which we need to remove loose pieces of cartilage or bone. Patients who are dealing with pain and stiffness due to milder or more moderate forms of OA may benefit most from debridement surgery.

Elbow replacement

Patients, particularly older individuals, who are dealing with more advanced forms of arthritis may benefit from replacing parts of the elbow that have become severely damaged due to disease. Replacement surgery can help to restore mobility and function back into the elbow.

Synovectomy

If the synovium, the membrane that lines the joint of the elbow, is inflamed or eroding due to inflammatory arthritis, this can cause significant and prolonged pain and swelling. Those dealing with the early stages of inflammatory arthritis may benefit most from this surgery.

If you are concerned about elbow pain and other problems that aren’t being alleviated with your current treatment plan, it may be time to talk with our orthopedic surgeon about whether you could benefit from elbow surgery. To schedule an appointment, call us today at (248) 551-9100 or (313) 887-6000.