Elbow Injuries and Disorders—Cartilage Disorders

Cartilage is the tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. It also gives shape and support to other parts of your body, such as your ears, nose and windpipe. Healthy cartilage helps you move by allowing your bones to glide over each other. It also protects bones by preventing them from rubbing against each other.

Injured, inflamed, or damaged cartilage can cause symptoms such as pain and limited movement. It can also lead to joint damage and deformity. Causes of cartilage problems include

• Tears and injuries, such as sports injuries
• Genetic factors
• Other disorders, such as some types of arthritis

Osteoarthritis results from breakdown of cartilage.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Costochondritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meniscus tears — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pectus carinatum (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pectus excavatum (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perichondritis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Your elbow joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the elbow joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have elbow problems.

Many things can make your elbow hurt. A common cause is tendinitis, an inflammation or injury to the tendons that attach muscle to bone. Tendinitis of the elbow is a sports injury, often from playing tennis or golf. You may also get tendinitis from overuse of the elbow.

Other causes of elbow pain include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, bursitis and arthritis. Treatment depends on the cause.

• Elbow pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Elbow replacement (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Elbow sprain — aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Medial epicondylitis – golfer’s elbow (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nursemaid’s elbow (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tennis elbow (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tennis elbow surgery (Medical Encyclopedia)