Facing Elbow Surgery? Learn 11 Treatment Options to Consider
Elbow pain can disrupt your daily life, whether from an injury, arthritis, or repetitive stress. Discover the most common surgical procedures available from the top orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco to restore function and relieve pain in your elbow.
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When everyday movements like reaching for a coffee mug or turning a doorknob become painful, elbow surgery is a conversation worth having. Elbow operations address a wide spectrum of problems, from sports injuries and fractures to the persistent ache of arthritis or nerve compression that limits your daily activities — and they aren’t too uncommon. In fact, around 150,000 elbow surgeries are performed annually in the United States, with tennis elbow repairs representing a significant portion of these procedures.
While this decision might feel overwhelming, working closely with the best orthopedic specialist in San Francisco will help you determine which path makes the most sense for you.
Whether you're an athlete hoping to return to competition or someone simply wanting to garden without pain, read on to learn more about the most common elbow surgeries in San Francisco.
Eleven Surgical Treatment Options from the Leading Orthopedic Surgeon in San Francisco for Injuries of the Elbow
When conservative treatments fail to resolve elbow problems, surgical intervention often becomes the necessary next step. The elbow joint is complex and requires specialized surgical approaches tailored to specific injuries and conditions. From addressing soft tissue damage to completely reconstructing the joint, modern orthopedic surgery, from the top orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco, offers diverse solutions for restoring function and eliminating pain:
1. Contracture Release Surgery
Contracture release surgery targets the tightened tissues that restrict elbow movement, freeing the joint from its locked position. During this procedure, scar tissue, contracted ligaments, or other soft tissues that have shortened and hardened over time are cut. This restores normal extension and flexion of the joint.
2. Decompression of Bony Impingement
Decompression surgery targets the painful problem of bone spurs and other unwanted growths that interfere with normal elbow function. During this procedure, these bony obstructions that have formed along the joint are removed, creating more space for smooth movement and reducing the painful grinding that occurs when bone rubs against bone.
3. Loose Body Removal
Loose body removal surgery addresses the uncomfortable problem of small fragments floating freely in your elbow joint, much like pebbles in your shoe that cause pain with every step. During this procedure, these troublesome pieces of cartilage or bone that have broken away from their original location are extracted, eliminating the catching, locking, or grinding sensations they cause during movement.
4. Cubital Tunnel Release
Cubital tunnel release surgery aims to free the ulnar nerve from excessive pressure where it passes through a narrow channel on the inside of your elbow. This is the same nerve that creates that peculiar sensation when you hit your funny bone. This procedure becomes necessary when constant compression causes persistent numbness, tingling, or pain that radiates from the elbow down to the ring and pinky fingers, potentially weakening your grip and interfering with daily activities like typing or holding objects.
5. Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
When this tendon tears, often with a painful pop during heavy lifting, patients lose significant strength in their arm, particularly when turning the palm up or bending the elbow. This makes everyday tasks like turning doorknobs or lifting objects surprisingly difficult. Distal biceps tendon repair reconnects your torn biceps tendon to its natural attachment site on the radius bone in your forearm, restoring the critical link between your biceps muscle and the bones that enable arm movement.
6. Elbow Fracture Repair
Elbow fracture repair surgically addresses breaks in the three bones that form your elbow joint: the radial head, the olecranon, or the distal humerus. Each fracture type presents unique challenges, with treatment determined by the break's location, pattern, and displacement.
7. Tennis Elbow Repair
Tennis elbow surgery is usually considered when persistent pain on the outside of your elbow continues despite months of non-surgical approaches like rest, physical therapy, bracing, or steroid injections. This condition frequently affects people who use their forearm muscles repeatedly during work or hobbies, from carpenters to computer programmers.
8. Radial Head Fractures and Replacement
Radial head replacement is recommended when the small, disc-shaped top of your radius bone shatters into multiple fragments that cannot be pieced back together. Typically, this happens from high-impact falls onto an outstretched hand or direct blows to the elbow.
9. Total Elbow Replacement
Total elbow joint replacement offers a transformative solution for patients suffering from severe, end-stage arthritis that has destroyed the joint surfaces or for older adults with complex elbow fractures that cannot be repaired conventionally. This surgery benefits those experiencing debilitating pain and significant functional limitations despite trying medications, injections, and other conservative measures.
10. Triceps Tendon Repair
Triceps tendon repair surgically reconnects the powerful triceps muscle to its attachment point on the bony prominence of your elbow, restoring your ability to straighten your arm against resistance. This procedure is usually necessary when the tendon completely tears away from the bone, often during a fall onto an outstretched hand or during forceful activities like weightlifting, leaving you unable to extend your elbow or push against objects effectively.
11. Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction — Tommy John Procedure
Tommy John surgery rebuilds the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), a crucial stabilizer on the inner side of the elbow that frequently tears under the extreme stress of repetitive throwing motions. During this intricate procedure, surgeons replace the damaged ligament with a harvested tendon to recreate its natural path and tension by threading it through carefully drilled tunnels in the humerus and ulna bones.
Looking for the Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Francisco for Elbow Surgery?
Restoring your mobility starts with personalized care and cutting-edge techniques. This is why Dr. Chen’s extensive experience and commitment to patient-centered treatment plans are so important. This advanced approach to orthopedics means you receive thoughtful guidance from your first consultation through recovery.
Our team prioritizes precision and safety, using minimally invasive methods whenever possible to reduce pain and speed up healing. Whether you're an athlete seeking a quick return to the game or someone looking to get back to everyday activities without discomfort, we’re here to help you move confidently again.
Ready to restore your elbow mobility and relieve persistent pain with the best elbow surgeon in San Francisco?
