Loose Bodies in Elbow Treatment | Elbow Arthroscopy

The elbow joints in our body join three bones that rely on muscles, ligaments and tendons in order to stabilize the structure of the elbow and also to control movement. The radius, ulna and the humerus and the two bones of the forearm meet at the flexible joint.

Cartilage cushions the elbow joint in between the bone contacts which provides a smooth layer to protect and glide the bone surfaces smoothly without causing any damage.

What Causes a Loose Body?

A fracture or trauma to the joint causes a loss of body in the elbow. Active people and athletes are more likely to suffer from this form of injury or discomfort since they are more likely to sustain it.

Osteoarthritis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and loss of the tissue lining the joint are all possible causes of loose body in the elbow. Long-term engagement in weightlifting and certain work-related motions can also raise the chance of having loose bodies. Fractures that cause bone chips in the elbow from fall can also cause loose body in the elbow.

Loose Bodies Symptoms of in Elbow

When an individual has loose bodies on their elbow, the following symptoms may be found:

  • Stiffness
  • Catching
  • Intermittent pain
  • Locking

Treatment of Loose Bodies in Elbow

A loose body in the elbow is usually a large free-floating bone fragment when it is caused by a fracture. Some other loose bodies are small, that contain no bone at all. Removal using an orthoscopic procedure is done to correct the condition depending upon the size and the location of the loose body.

In case of a large loose body, the surgeon may suggest to get it treated by fixing it to an adjacent bone. The loose body can also be broken up which enables the human body’s natural enzymes to degrade the remaining material.

Elbow olecranon fractures can be treated by simply resting and avoiding activities for your elbow for a good 6 to 12 weeks. If the case is severe a surgery might be needed but resting usually does the work.

Final Overview

There are many top orthopaedic doctors in Mumbai who consult and treat your problems of loose body in the elbow. The cost of surgery for the loose body in India might range from 1 lakh to 8 lakh. However, the amount differs on the basis of the charges of different orthopaedic doctors.

The surgery requires a lot of tests that includes blood test, MRI scan, CT scan, X-Ray or Arthrography. The doctor also looks into the history of the patient as it helps in detecting the cause of the problem. They check the level of severity of the problem and treat the patient accordingly.

Dr. Chirag Patel is a bone specialist doctor in Mumbai. He offers services for hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and ankle. He has diagnosed many problems related to any one of his fields of expertise and has successfully treated them as well. If you are in Mumbai and need to get your joints checked, you can totally trust Dr. Chirag and his team to treat you well.