May also be called: Broken Elbow Fractured (broken) elbows are a common injury in kids and teens. Most heal well when the joint is protected with a cast. Sometimes surgery is needed, but this is rare. More to Know The elbow joint is made up of three bones. A fractured elbow means that one of the bones is broken. The elbow is commonly broken when someone holds an arm out to stop a fall. Sometimes the broken bone is obvious on X-ray. Other times, fluid collecting around the elbow joint is the only sign of a fracture. A fiberglass or plaster cast will be placed around the elbow to support it and hold the broken bone(s) steady while they're healing. Keep in Mind How long a cast is needed varies depending on the type of injury and how the bones are healing. The doctor will let you know how long the cast is to be worn. A cast can feel heavy, so sometimes a sling is placed over it for support. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Broken Bones Many kids will have a broken bone at some point. Here's what to expect. Read More X-Ray Exam: Elbow An elbow X-ray can help find the cause of symptoms such as pain, tenderness, swelling, or a deformity. It can also help to detect broken bones or a dislocated joint. Read More Your Bones Where would you be without your bones? Learn more about the skeletal system in this article for kids. Read More Bones, Muscles, and Joints Without bones, muscles, and joints, we couldn't stand, walk, run, or even sit. The musculoskeletal system supports our bodies, protects our organs from injury, and enables movement. Read More Bones, Muscles, and Joints Our bones, muscles, and joints form our musculoskeletal system and enable us to do everyday physical activities. Read More Broken Bones Bones are tough stuff - but even tough stuff can break. Find out what happens when a bone fractures. Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone needs emergency medical care. Here's what to do if you think your child just broke a bone. Read More Casts This article for teens has tips on taking care of a cast so it keeps working as it should. Read More Broken Bones What happens when you break a bone? Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.