Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Broken Elbow Treatment
1. Reduce Swelling
Apply ice.
If bone is pushing through skin, do not touch it or try to put it back in place.
2. Immobilize the Elbow
For less serious injuries:
Cut away the sleeve if it cannot be removed without moving the injured elbow.
If you can without moving the elbow, tie splints on with fabric or elastic bandages above and below the elbow.
Cardboard, rolled-up newspaper, or other stiff material can be used as splints.
Put padding between the splints and the bony parts of the arm.
Make a sling and place the person's arm in it. Tie the sling around the person's neck.
3. See a Health Care Provider Immediately
4. Follow Up
The health care provider will likely take X-rays and check for feeling and range of motion to determine whether there has been nerve or tendon damage.
The health care provider may apply a splint or cast.
Surgery may be needed for more complicated fractures.
WebMD Medical Reference
SOURCES:
FamilyDoctor.org: "Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems."
Seattle Children's Hospital: "Bone, Joint and Muscle Conditions: Fractures."
Merck Manuals: "Emergency First Aid Priorities."
US Naval Academy: "Casualty Evaluation and Evacuation."
Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: "How to Splint a Fracture."