C. Noel Henley, MD

Hand and Upper Extremity Specialist

Razorback Jared Cornelius Injury – What Is A Forearm Fracture?

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This image of Jared Cornelius and his broken arm shows what looks like a forearm fracture.

What exactly is broken in a forearm fracture?

Also called a “both bone forearm fracture”, this injury involves the complete breaking in two of each of the two bones of the forearm: the radius (on the thumb side), and the ulna (on the pinky side).

Remember that break and fracture mean the same thing – these bones are broken in half!

This is different than a wrist fracture – the wrist is technically closer to the hand. The forearm bones are the two long bones between the elbow and the wrist.

How is a forearm fracture treated?

In children, these fractures can be treated with just casting or a couple of pins.

The first thing that happens after the injury is to put the patient’s arm in a temporary splint, usually made of fiberglass. This holds the bones still so the arm doesn’t hurt as much.

In adults, the standard treatment is to take the patient to surgery within a few days and fix each bone with a long metal plate and several screws. This is a fairly significant surgery involving making two large incisions over each bone, and moving muscles and nerves around to get access to the broken bones underneath. Surgery may take 1 or 2 hours and the patient can go home the same day.

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How long is the recovery time after a forearm fracture?

An athlete with this injury will not be able to play for at least six weeks after surgery. It takes six weeks for bone to heal after it’s lined up correctly in surgery. After the bone heals, the athlete can return to playing sports.

This video shows how the surgery is typically done. It’s all done on fake bones, but with real plates and screws – nothing gruesome:

Kendall Marshall’s Broken Wrist – What Is A Scaphoid Bone?

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anatomy of wrist bonesUniversity of North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall will have surgery to fix a fractured scaphoid bone. Surgery is scheduled for sometime today, and will involve putting a screw in the scaphoid bone, according to Kendall’s father, Dennis Marshall.

In this article I’ll show you a picture of where the scaphoid is in the wrist, and what a typical screw looks like that might be put inside the bone in surgery.

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Brett Favre’s Elbow Condition and You

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This is a press release from PR Newswire. Brett has a condition called tennis elbow which I see almost every week in the office.

brett favre vikings

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xoque/

Superstar Quarterback’s 290th Consecutive Start Questionable as Doctors Reveal More about His Injury

ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Vikings’ quarterback Brett Favre’s record hangs in the balance as he suffers from a degenerative elbow injury that affects his accuracy and forced him to miss practice earlier this week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. His condition, Lateral Epicondylitis or “Tennis Elbow,” affects many Americans and is generally treatable without surgery under the proper care of a hand specialist.

Hand Surgeon, Stephen J. Troum, MD, a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand said, “[Lateral Epicondylitis] can definitely affect his throwing arm. It’s an inflammation around the elbow caused by repetitive trauma and characterized by pain and tenderness. Most people don’t realize how debilitating it can be.”

Last week against the Jets, Favre missed several wide-open receivers which he attributed to the pain in his elbow. Dr. Troum added, “It’s an overload injury on the extensor tendon of the forearm and can affect athletic performance. For most people in can be treated without surgery.” According to Vikings Offensive Coordinator, Darrel Bevell, it is unclear whether or not Favre will be able to start in Sunday’s game, possibly bringing an end to Favre’s NFL-record starting streak of 289.

Lateral Epicondylitis affects 1-3% of the population and is most common in people between 30 and 50 years of age. Despite its common name, “Tennis Elbow,” 95% of those who suffer from the disease get it from activities other than tennis. A qualified hand surgeon can be helpful in its diagnosis and treatment.

About Hand Surgeons

Hand surgeons have received specialized additional training in the treatment of hand problems in addition to their board certified specialty training in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, or general surgery. To become members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, hand surgeons must have completed a full year of such additional training and must pass a rigorous certifying examination. Many hand surgeons also have expertise with problems of the elbow, arm, and shoulder. Some hand surgeons treat only children, some treat only adults, and some treat both. Common problems treated include carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, wrist pain, sports injuries of the hand and wrist, fractures of the hand, wrist, and forearm, and trigger fingers. Other problems treated by hand surgeons include arthritis, nerve and tendon injuries, and congenital limb differences (birth defects). Not all problems treated by a hand surgeon need surgery. Hand surgeons often recommend non-surgical treatments, such as medication, splints, therapy, and injections. Hand surgeons are specialists devoted to hand care.

About the ASSH

The mission of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) is to advance the science and practice of hand surgery through education, research and advocacy on behalf of patients and practitioners. Founded in 1946, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand is the oldest medical specialty society in the United States devoted entirely to continuing medical education related to hand surgery.

SOURCE American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Read more about Brett’s condition, tennis elbow.