7th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Tamia McDougald
Title: Elbow reconstruction in Division one collegiate football defensive back
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Christie , Exercise Science

19 year old male collegiate Division 1 Defensive back football player presented with pain, decreased function, and deformity in right elbow as well as numbness and tingling in the dorsal aspect of the wrist of the right hand. Athlete fell on an outstretched arm, and another player collided with his straight elbow. The subject had no previous or current medical conditions Differential Diagnosis: Fracture; Elbow dislocation. Treatment: The patient was examined on the sideline by the athletic trainers and the team physicians. The team physician reduced the elbow on the sideline. The athlete regained ROM but continued to demonstrate decreased strength. Vascular assessment revealed no compromises, he was splinted for the day, and did not return to play; he was reassessed two days later in the office by an orthopedic surgeon. The elbow dislocation was confirmed however, x-rays revealed the presence of bone fragments within the joint space as well as Right proximal ulna type II comminuted coronoid fracture, a right elbow LCL fracture, and Right Elbow LCL rupture. The subject had total elbow reconstruction with an external fixator surgery shortly thereafter. However, complications during surgery left the patient with nerve damage in the wrist, which caused wrist drop that persisted well into the rehabilitation process. The patient was cleared for return-to-play no- contact, about 5 months later. Uniqueness: There were also other things wrong with the patient that the Athletic Trainers weren’t aware of such as the Fracture, the MCL sprain and the LCL rupture. During the surgery, the doctor hit a nerve which caused the subject to have radial nerve damage resulting in drop wrist; sensation and control was later regained. Conclusion: It is important to be careful because there could also be more underlying issues than what is seen at the time.