The elbow or elbow joint (Latin: articulatio cubiti) is the joint that forms the connection between the upper arm and the forearm. It is a special joint because it connects one bone in the upper arm with two bones in the forearm. Apart from the elbow joint having to take care of the bending of the forearm relative to the upper arm, this joint takes care of the rotation of the two bones in the forearm relative to each other. In this process, the radius (Latin: radius) rotates around the ulna (Latin: ulna). The strength of the human elbow joint is obtained from connective tissue ligaments running on the inside and outside of the joint. The elbow is one of the joints regularly affected in people with rheumatoid arthritis. When necessary, for example due to the rheumatoid arthritis or a fracture of the elbow after a fall, the joint can be replaced with a prosthesis.
Common elbow problems
The most common elbow complaints are localised on the inside or outside of the elbow. Complaints on the outside of the elbow are known as tennis elbow. Problems on the inside are known as golfer’s elbow. Both diagnoses simply indicate that there is pain on the outside or inside of the elbow. The cause of these problems can vary greatly.
An overuse of the tendons and muscles around the elbow is the most common cause. It may also be that muscles around the neck and shoulder are responsible for this (radiating) pain. Very occasionally, there is bursitis or something going on inside the joint.
- Elbow collateral ligament injury
- Bursitis olecrani
- Corpus liberum
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Distal biceps injury
- Fibromyalgia
- Golf arm
- KANS (arm, neck and/or shoulder complaints)
- Bruising
- Myositis ossificans
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Radial tunnel syndrome
- Rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Tennis elbow
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Triceps injury
