Procedure
- The patient sits on a chair, with both lower arms placed on a table or examination table.
- Position yourself opposite the patient.
- Preferably, palpate using the fingertips.
- Ask the patient to indicate precisely where and when it is painful.
- In the case of abnormal findings, compare left and right.
- Note:
- Any swelling and its characteristics.
- The muscle tone (fingers transverse to the direction of the muscle fibres).
- Abnormal mobility.
- Abnormal structures.
- Discontinuity.
The following bones and joints are accessible for palpation:
- Medial and lateral supracondylar ridges (fracture).
- Medial epicondyle (golfer’s elbow) [Figure 94].
Figure 94
- Ulnar nerve groove (dislocation of the ulnar nerve).
- Lateral epicondyle (tennis elbow) [Figure 95].
Figure 95
- Olecranon (fracture).
- Humeroradial joint (dislocation) and radial head (dislocation).
- Humeroulnar joint (rheumatoid arthritis) [Figure 96].
Figure 96
- Posterior border of the ulna (fracture).
The following soft tissues are accessible for palpation:
- Skin.
- Muscles.
- The other soft tissues are:
- Subcutaneous olecranon bursa (bursitis).
- Joint capsule (capsulitis, arthritis) – palpate this at the level of the humeroradial joint and the humeroulnar joint.
- Ulnar nerve (dislocation, neuritis).