I fell off my bike a couple of months ago and chipped the end off my elbow. It seems to be recovering nicely in that it isn’t absolute agony when i bang it on something…

There’s a fairly obvious dent on the end of my elbow and a surprisingly large fragment floating around.

I went to the doctor the other day, who asked me what I’d like them to do, which is always helpful when you go seeking advice… Anyway, ended up getting an X-ray. Apparently everything is ‘fine’.

I’m sure it’ll will heal eventually, but should i be concerned about the fragment and it’s close proximity to the joint? The doctor hasn’t really inspired me with confidence!

Has anyone any similar experiences?

Cheers

I did the same when I fell on the ice in Ikea’s car park. They said that bones in that area don’t have very good blood supply so it’s touch and go if it it’ll join back on. Luckily mind did but it was quite painful for a while. I’d have thought yours should have got better by now if it was going to,

Smacked mine end of October, chipped bone, skin graft. 2 weeks in a sling. Was back on bike early Jan. Still hurts a bit and still a bit swollen.

I chipped mine inadvertantl. There was no isue until the chip went into the joint mechanism and caused the joint to lock and malfunction, that required an arthroscopy to sort it out.

Chipped elbows are faster than standard ones.

(sorry)

Chipped mine 10 years ago

“Checks elbow”

Yep, still floats about

Thanks for the info, we’re not blessed with lots of doctors to choose from, but I’ll see if i can see a good one and explain my concerns.

I figured the X-ray would see the blatantly obvious movable lump on my elbow and that would kick off fixing it.

I’m guessing once the bone has started to heal (8 weeks after the event) it’ll be removal of chip rather than pinning it back in place?

Smashed my left one 2 years ago, problem was the bit that came off is one of the tricep attachments so it was put back together, took a long time to recover and still not fully comfortable.

The doctor is giving you the option as it is your health service and as the service user you get to play a part in the decision making process. There has been a big push for patient centred care for a while now. Ideally, though, the pros and cons will be explained to you first! 🙂

I would always choose to avoid surgery if possible, as the resulting scar tissue may cause more problems than the original complaint. If it’s painful and/or you don’t have full use of your elbow then it would be worth considering, otherwise count your blessings and crack on! 🙂

The doctor is giving you the option as it is your health service and as the service user you get to play a part in the decision making process. There has been a big push for patient centred care for a while now. Ideally, though, the pros and cons will be explained to you first!

I don’t mind being given options and helping the doctor come to the most appropriate solution. I hate being shrugged at and being asked what I’d like them to do.

Thanks for advice about surgery, all the web articles seem to suggest it’s worth getting it removed (however most are American and therefore money is involved so they tend to over medicate stuff)

I’ll see how it goes, range of movement was never affected, it was just sore with contact, which seems to be getting better.

Timely thread as usual, thanks STW!

bluearsedflyjuniorno2 as of last night is currently in a temporary cast after being diagnosed with a ‘chipped elbow’.

There is talk of surgery and inserting a wire? We’ll find out more this morning when she’s seen the specialist. Is it normal to wire a chipped elbow?

Fell down stairs and chipped my elbow. Took about six years before it stopped massively hurting (shooting pains through my whole arm) when I bashed it. Eventually just didn’t do it anymore.

Chipped my left elbow aged about 17. It floated about for about for a few years before it got small enough that I didn’t notice it.

Was painful to lean on for the first few years. Like if you lean on a small stone. Eventually stopped but its still a little tender to lean on.
I did the other one a few years later so at least its balanced out and stops me slouching at the table!

Still have the indentation in my elbow joint to this day.

It sounds like a fairly common thing then!

Latest feedback on the X-ray from the doctor (via a receptionist) is that it is just swelling. Not quite sure what to make of that, as i have a floaty bit of bone that can be pushed about, suspiciously the same size and shape as the bit missing from the bone just next to it…

Anyway the next available doctor’s appointment is in 3 weeks, so i guess I’ll just have to wait and see what she says.

Is it normal to wire a chipped elbow?

It all depends on what bit has been chipped and by how much! If jr has chipped a bit off that will affect the use of the elbow then, yes, they may well use a wire to hold it back into place while it heals. The vast majority of these are internal (under the skin) so no unsightly protruding bits. I don’t see a reason it couldn’t be left in indefinitely if it is not causing any discomfort, although they sometimes prefer to take them out again once the bone has fully healed (around 3 months)

I don’t see a reason it couldn’t be left in indefinitely if it is not causing any discomfort

Is there a risk of the chip finding its way into the joint? Or is this one of those things that although could happen, rarely does?

I can imagine if it did, it could make a mess of things…!