Elbow examination

Question 1

How do you ask patient to position themselves when you are looking at elbow carrying angle?

Answer 1

Patient should stand facing you, arms and hands at their sides (fully extended arm) with palms facing forward

Question 2

What is the normal range for elbow carrying angle?

Answer 2

5-15 degrees

Question 3

What is cubitus valgus deformity, and in what part of the examination do you identify it?

Answer 3

Forearm is angled away from body at greater degree than normal when arm is fully extended

Look for it

Question 4

What is cubitus varus deformity, and in what part of the examination do you identify it?

Answer 4

Forearm is angled away from body at smaller degree than normal when arm is fully extended, looks like forearm is almost vertical

Look for it

Question 5

When looking for elbow flexion deformity, how do you position the patient?

Answer 5

Look at patient from the side with their arm extended

Question 6

What 3 surfaces of the elbow should you look at?

Answer 6

Posterior, medial, lateral

Question 7

What 6 signs can you look for on the posterior, medial, lateral surfaces of the elbow?

Answer 7

Scars, rashes, muscle wasting, rheumatoid nodules, psoriatic plaques, and swellings such as olecranon bursitis

Question 8

What does olecranon bursitis look like?

Answer 8

Large, round swelling on posterior aspect of elbow, over olecranon

Question 9

What 2 areas do you feel for temperature, and what technique do you use?

Answer 9

Use back of hand to feel temperature of elbow joint and forearm

Question 10

How do you feel the radial head and joint line for tenderness and swelling?

Answer 10

Hold patient’s forearm with one hand so that their elbow is flexed 90 degrees, then use your thumb to feel radial head and joint line

Question 11

Where does synovitis usually present in the elbow joint?

Answer 11

Between lateral epicondyle and olecranon, should feel for fullness

Question 12

What is golfer’s elbow, and how do you feel for it?

Answer 12

Palpate medial epicondyle tenderness

Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow): inflammation on end of inner elbow, within the common flexor tendon

Question 13

What is tennis elbow, and how do you feel for it?

Answer 13

Palpate lateral epicondyle tenderness

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): inflammation on end of outer elbow, within the common extensor tendon

Question 14

Where do you feel elbow joint for swelling that could indicate olecranon bursitis?

Answer 14

Feel olecranon process

Question 15

What 4 movements are examined for elbow function?

Answer 15

Elbow flexion
Elbow extension
Protonation
Supination

Question 16

How do you test active and passive elbow flexion, what is the normal range of movement?

Answer 16

Active elbow flexion: ask patient to bend their elbows

Passive elbow flexion: bend patient’s elbows

Normal angle: 0-145 degrees

Question 17

How do you test active and passive elbow extension, what is the normal range of movement?

Answer 17

Active elbow extension: ask patient to straighten out arm as far as possible

Passive elbow extension: straighten out patient’s arm as far as possible

Normal angle: 0 degrees

Question 18

How do you test active and passive protonation, what is the normal range of movement?

Answer 18

Active protonation: ask patient to turn forearm so that palm is facing floor and feel for crepitus

Passive protonation: turn patient’s forearm so that palm is facing floor and feel for crepitus

Normal angle: 0-85 degrees

Question 19

How do you test active and passive supination, what is the normal range of movement?

Answer 19

Active supination: ask patient to turn forearm so that palm is facing up and feel for crepitus

Passive supination: turn patient’s forearm so that palm is facing up and feel for crepitus

Normal angle: 0-90 degrees

Question 20

Give one example of how to test for elbow function?

Answer 20

Ask patient to put their hand on their mouth

Question 21

If a patient has elbow flexion deformity, how will their elbow look when flexed?

Answer 21

Reduced elbow flexion so angle will be less than 120 degrees

patient won’t be able to brin hand close to face

Question 22

If a patient has elbow flexion deformity, how will their elbow look when extended?

Answer 22

Reduced elbow extension so angle will be reduced by over 30 degrees

Patient won’t be able to fully straighten out arm