Acute injuries:

• Fracture or dislocation of the elbow, ligament injury
• Rupture of the biceps and triceps tendon

Chronic injuries

Tendinosis, tendinopathies

• So-called fatigue injuries, injuries caused by overuse or inappropriate technique, where the pain gradually increases with the exertion.

Pain helps in the diagnosis

• Sharp pain as a result of sudden movement indicates a fracture, dislocation or acute ligament injury.
• Gradual onset of pain is typical of so-called tendinopathies such as golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow.
• The location of the pain is important, pain on the anterior side of the elbow may indicate golfer’s elbow, while pain on the posterior side may indicate tennis elbow.
• The appearance of swelling and bruising in acute injuries is indicative of the injured area.

Necessary examinations

• In traumatic injuries, the most important thing to do, in addition to a physical examination, is an X-ray, which will show the damage to the bony elements.
• If we want to check the condition of the ligaments, muscles, tendons or cartilage, an MRI should be performed.
• Ultrasound can be useful if you want to check the condition of the tendons while moving.