Elbow

One of the most common injuries to the elbow is a tear to one of the ligaments. Several ligaments stabilize the elbow joint, and a tear to any one of these ligaments can cause pain and instability. The most common ligament tears occur at the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is located on the inside of the elbow. These tears are often caused by repetitive stress, such as from throwing a baseball. Dr. Timmerman specializes in UCL reconstruction.

Other less common types of elbow ligament tears include radial collateral ligament tears and annular ligament tears. These tears usually occur as a result of a single traumatic event, such as a fall or direct blow to the elbow. Treatment for elbow ligament tears may vary depending on the severity of the injury but often includes rest, ice, and immobilization. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the ligament damage. Elbow ligament tears can be painful and debilitating injuries, but with proper treatment, most people are able to recover fully.

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) are conditions caused by repetitive stress to the forearm's tendons and muscles, leading to inflammation and pain in the elbow joint. Although these conditions are associated with tennis and golf, respectively, any activity that involves repetitive arm motions can lead to tennis elbow or golf elbow.

The difference between the two is where inflammation occurs and symptoms are felt. Tennis elbow involves inflammation that occurs on the lateral (outer) side of your elbow and it affects your ability to bend your wrist backward and straighten your fingers. Golfer's elbow involves inflammation that occurs on the medial (inner) side of the elbow and it affects your ability to bend your wrist toward the palm.

Treatment includes injections, physical therapy, and surgery if conservative treatment fails.

Tommy John surgery, otherwise known as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a type of procedure often performed on baseball pitchers in order to repair a torn ligament in the elbow. The surgery is named after a successful pitcher Tommy John, who was the first professional baseball player to undergo the operation in 1974. The procedure involves using a tendon from another part of the body to replace the damaged ligament. In most cases, the surgery is successful and allows patients to return to their previous level of activity.

Dr. Timmerman specializes in Tommy John surgery and it is among the procedures she frequently performs.

Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive orthopaedic surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat a variety of elbow conditions. Arthroscopy involves making a small incision in the skin and inserting an arthroscope, a small camera, into the elbow joint. This allows the surgeon to visualize the inside of the elbow joint and identify any problems. Elbow arthroscopy is often used to treat elbow arthritis, ligament tears, and tendonitis. It can also be used to remove loose bodies or bone fragments from the elbow joint. Recovery time is typically short, and most patients can return to their normal activities within a few weeks.

Dr. Timmerman is nationally renowned for her elbow arthroscopy skills. She performs these procedures frequently and instructs other surgeons on it.

When the bicep tendon tears at the elbow, it is most often the result of sudden trauma. Symptoms include severe pain and sudden arm weakness. Once the tendon has ruptured, it will not heal on its own, and surgery is often required. Dr. Timmerman performs surgical repairs of ruptured bicep tendons.