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More On The Elbow And The Arm

.	View a document showing the structure of the arm and elbow.

The human body is a very complex and sometimes fragile thing. Breaking my elbow has given me a stronger grasp of its weaknesses. However, I can't live my life in a bubble, can I?

On February 2, 1997, I broke my right elbow when I crashed on my dirt bike (my birthday is February 3 -- Happy Birthday, Clay). I fell hard, landing on my elbow. I believe the bone I broke is the Humerus, but I can tell you, there was nothing much fun about it. Part of it seems to have "sheared off". The diagnosis was a Comminuted T-condylar fracture of the right elbow (huh?).

You can view the initial x-ray taken after I was admitted to the hospital. The severe break on the humerus is easily seen. Also available is the Operative Report and the Discharge Summary from my surgery and my stay in the hospital.

I was in the hospital for 5 days, but the recovery is taking a very long time. Because I was in a splint for about 5 weeks without use or movement of my arm, my muscles there nearly completely went away.

As luck would have it, the healing bone parts separated, requiring more surgery. The operation to repair this was performed on May 12th, 1997. You can view the xray taken one week after this surgery. My strength is returning, but I still have very limited motion - from about 35 degrees extended to 100 bending, without assistance.