Elbow Surgery Specialist

Elbow Surgery services offered in Porterville, Reedley and Visalia, CA

If you have elbow pain, limited joint or arm movement, or an elbow condition leads to numbness in your arm, you may need elbow surgery to repair the underlying problem. The board-certified hand and orthopaedic surgeons at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services have extensive experience performing minimally invasive and open elbow surgery. Their advanced techniques, surgical skills, and personalized care help you recover and return to your activities quickly. To learn more about elbow surgery, call the office in Visalia, Porterville, or Reedley, California, or book an appointment online today.

When might I need elbow surgery?

You may have a complex fracture or another type of traumatic injury that requires immediate elbow surgery; however, your treatment for an elbow injury or medical condition usually begins with nonsurgical care.

When your symptoms don't improve with treatments like physical therapy, steroid injections, braces, and anti-inflammatory medications, your provider may recommend elbow surgery.

What conditions may require elbow surgery?

The experienced hand specialists at Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services treat the full range of elbow injuries and diseases. However, conditions that most often need surgery, whether immediately or after nonsurgical treatment, include:

Arthritis
Loose fragments in the joint
Tennis elbow
Golfer's elbow
Elbow dislocation
Elbow fractures
Ligament tears
Throwing injuries
Ulnar nerve entrapment
Compartment syndrome
Ulnar collateral ligament injury

Common inflammatory conditions like tendonitis and chronic bursitis may also need surgical intervention.

What symptoms indicate I may need elbow surgery?

Elbow conditions cause symptoms such as:

Pain
Swelling
Bruising
Joint stiffness
Weak grip
Joint locking
Loss of arm strength
Limited elbow movement
Limited arm movement
Numbness in your arm or hands

When any of these symptoms get worse or persist despite your nonsurgical care, it’s a sign that surgery might be the best solution.

What are the different types of elbow surgery?

This list isn't comprehensive, but it includes a few of the most common elbow procedures. You may need surgery to:

Remove inflamed, diseased, or damaged tissues
Reattach tendons to bones
Release tendons
Remove loose bodies
Reconstruct ligaments
Replace the elbow joint
Reposition the ulnar nerve

Whenever possible, your surgeon performs minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. They make a small incision during arthroscopy and guide a slim scope into the joint. A camera in the scope sends magnified images to a monitor, allowing your surgeon to closely examine the tissues and perform surgery.

In some cases, your surgeon may recommend traditional open surgery to achieve the best results. For example, complex fractures, joint replacements, decompressing the ulnar nerve, and repairing collateral ligament injuries often need open surgery.

If you need help with elbow pain or want to learn more about elbow surgery, call Sequoia Institute for Surgical Services or book an appointment online today.