Elbow examination

• Inspection
• Palpation
• Movement

Before starting

• Introduce yourself
• Ask permission to perform the examination
• Explain what the examination entails
• Expose the patient appropriately - both of the patient's arms should be exposed
• Tell the patient to let you know if anything you do is uncomfortable
• Remember - always watch the patients face 

Inspection

• General observation
  • Does the patient look well?
  • Is there any obvious deformities or conditions?
    • Gout
    • Rheumatoid nodules

• Remember to inspect from all sides (front, laterally and from behind):
  • Skin
    • Scars (previous injuries or surgcial scars)
    • Skin changes
  • Deformity
    •  Varus/ valgus
    • Malunited fractures 
  • Swelling
    • Intra-articular (heamarthrosis, synovitis)
    • Extra-articular (bursitis) 
  • Effusion 
  • Muscle wasting
    •  Biceps, triceps and forearm 
  • Carrying angle - measured with a goniometer
    • Average male carrying angle - 11 ^o
    • Average female carrying angle - 13 ^o