FOR DOCTORS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Elbow and forearm
Care after tendon repair, stabilisation, fracture fixation, arthrolysis and ulnar nerve decompression.

Protocols and individual care
The individual case, the individual patient, the individual surgeon. The rehabilitation plan depends on the repaired structure, tissue quality, fixation stability, the technique used and the orthopaedic surgeon’s instructions. The same procedure name may cover different extents of reconstruction.
Early, safe mobilisation helps limit elbow stiffness, but must preserve protection of repaired structures. When a detailed operative report is missing, obtain the information before changing range of motion, loading or the pace of progression.
Scope of this section
- Distal biceps tendon repair — rehabilitation protocol
- Total elbow arthroplasty — Coonrad–Morrey
- Surgical treatment of elbow instability — rehabilitation protocol
- Distal humerus fracture — dual LCP plate fixation
- Radial head fracture fixation — screws or LCP plate
- Olecranon fracture fixation — tension band wiring or LCP plate
- Elbow arthroscopy — loose-body and osteophyte removal, contracture release
- In situ ulnar nerve decompression — rehabilitation protocol
- Anterior subcutaneous ulnar nerve transposition — postoperative protocol
- Intramuscular and submuscular ulnar nerve transposition — postoperative protocol
Content prepared by: Tomasz Poboży - orthopaedic surgeon.