Elbow Examination

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Look

From the front

• For normal carrying angle

From the side

• For flexion deformities

Observe posterior and medial aspect

• Signs of scars
• Swelling
• Rashes
• Olecranon bursitis
• Rheumatoid nodules
• Sciatic plaques

Feel

Compare temperature with adjacent sites.
Feel for tenderness in the:

• olecranon process
• lateral and medial epycondyles

Move

Full extension and flexion, actively and passively.

• Feel joint for crepitus.
• Look for hypermobility, or other causes of excessive extension.

Also do pronation and supination, actively and passively.

• The radial head can easily be identified when holding elbow.

Finally... Get them to touch nose to ascertain function.