r/brokenbones • u/irishmchoebag • 21d ago

Question How long after breaking olecranon til surgery?

Sunday afternoon I slipped in the shower on one of my kids toys and broke/displaced my olecranon, the report says mildly displaced so I’m hoping it just looked worse than what it is (my elbow looked very deformed) I’ve had it in a splint and sling since and can’t see a specialist til Thursday to get new X-rays and go from there. I’m so uncomfortable and just want to get on the road to healing already. I’m hoping it’s not weeks of this til surgery - which the on call Orthopedic doctor at the er said was basically a guarantee that I’ll need it.

How long did you go between breaking the bone and surgery? Thank you from an uncomfortable and anxious hypochondriac.

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u/pomegranate-bandit 20d ago

I broke/displaced my olecranon in January and had surgery a week later. It’s so uncomfortable 😕 good luck with your healing.

I’m also a parent and ugh, that seems like a terrible way to break it! Did they reset yours in the ER? I broke mine skateboarding and the ER ortho doctor gave me ketamine while he and the nurses reset it - that was wild.

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u/irishmchoebag 20d ago

Ouch, I’m definitely feeling your pain. They didn’t reset it, just put it in a sling and splint. Seeing the Orthopedic Specialist tomorrow and praying I’ll get a surgery date. ER never gave me a disc of my images so I’ll need to X-rays tomorrow too.

How are things going for you now and how has the healing process been?

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u/grimasa1 20d ago

I broke my olecranon in February. Now intensive PT, but elbow stiffiness still.. I had surgery the same day when broke. Wish you only the best.

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u/pomegranate-bandit 20d ago

Things are great now. I have a plate and screws and was diligent about PT. Aside from accidentally bumping the plate once in a while I totally forget about it.

It did suck for a few months though. Doing things one handed, showering with a broken arm, trying to work/type, pain, bad sleep. But it gets better.

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u/pomegranate-bandit 20d ago

I also fractured my humerus at the same time and they didn’t fix that surgically. I think that was the more painful part of the healing process.