Elbow Open Surgery
Elbow joint is critical to the functionality of the entire range of upper extremity as stiff elbow can cause diminished mobility in other joints that are connected to it or via it.
A hinge joint that comprises of three bones and a network of tendons, muscles and ligaments and articular cartilage that facilitates its movements, elbow joint is complex yet delicate. There are many debilitating conditions that traumatize it causing loss in mobility and strength.
Open surgery is the most conservative technique to treat such problems of the elbow joint that cannot be relieved by other techniques. It involves a much lengthier procedure than Arthroscopy but it is the most proficient technique, skillfully performed by the elbow surgeon.
Prepairing for surgery:
The patient is well informed of all potential risks and benefits involving the surgery prior to it and anxieties of the patient are put to rest by an in depth discussion. Thereafter some medical tests are run on the patient to rule out any doubt of patient’s general health regarding the surgery. The elbow surgeon goes through the medicine history of the patient and advises which medicines should be stopped before surgery. Any allergies, reactions or any bad habit that could impact the surgery should be reported to the elbow surgeon before the surgery to facilitate in no risk operation.
Performing the surgery:
Debridement surgery starts being performed after giving anesthesia to the patient. The discolored, torn tendon or part of the elbow is exposed by making one to three inch incisions (cut) and the elbow surgeon removes the damaged part and repairs the surrounding tissues. Sometimes the surgeon also removes the tendon and the healthy tendon tissue is sewn back thereafter. The cuts made on the elbow for the surgery are then stitched back together with absorbable or nonabsorbable sutures and the surgery is considered completed.
After the surgery:
The elbow surgeon bandages or wraps the elbow in gauze after the surgery and after elevating it to immobilize it, places the arm in a posterior splint. The patient is kept in the recovery room till the anesthesia wears off and kept on medications to keep the pain subsided. After the elbow surgeon considers fit, the patient is released from the hospital with an instruction list that comprises of the medications to be followed, activities to be avoided and a scheduled follow up visit with the surgeon after a few days.
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation is essential for successful outcome of surgery in terms of stiffness and easy flexibility. The therapy is begun with gentle stretching and strengthening exercises, under the supervision of a skilled physiotherapist. The target of the therapist is to enable mobility and endurance back in the elbow so that the patient can perform daily activities that become very painful otherwise.
Complications:
There are various probable complications involved with open surgery that vary from infection in the incision to damage to a nerve or blood vessel. Loss in flexibility or strength is the most common complications that may occur after surgery increasing the chances of re surgery.
Resuming activities:
The patient is advised to take precautionary measures regarding performance and avoidance of certain activities to avoid sustenance of re injury. The outcome of surgery varies in each case depending on the skill of the elbow surgeon and the severity of the injury treated. The patient is likely to experience pain after the first few days of the surgery but eventually with the help of medications and rehabilitating protocols the patient is able to resume work and daily chores in a few weeks. Heavy pressure on the elbow is not permissible for a few months.
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Benefits:
There are many newer modalities of treatment available and the elbow surgeon does ponder over taking them up but for optimum outcome and for treating severe damage, open and conservative surgery is still considered as the best tool of deliverance. Open surgery has several benefits over other forms of treatment. Open surgical technique is the best technique to repair critical neurovascular structures, critical multiple fractures or severely damaged soft tissue intervals.
More about the elbow doctor:
Dr. Vikas Gupta certified and experienced elbow specialist, at present an integral part of Max Healthcare as head of the Shoulder and Hand division, a newly started wing to facilitate the patients with expert treatment for upper extremity, is deft in treating patients with both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques.
As an elbow doctor he has treated patients with all kinds of elbow injuries and conditions and is the first medical specialist to introduce many international techniques to India. Updated with latest technological advancements in techniques, Dr. Gupta is equally skilled in diagnosing and evaluating the degrading conditions that affect the joint. Having completed his MBBS and MS in Orthopedics from All India Institute of Medical Sciences and further advanced knowledge from Germany and USA, he has performed more than 6000 surgeries over the past 25 years of his career. He, at present is one of the best specialists for the upper extremity conditions in India.
Max Healthcare, the super specialty hospitals joined hands with him after an insight into his visionary approach to treat upper extremity ailments. All facilities and latest technological equipments are available at Max Healthcare to provide patients with cost effective and painless techniques.