Elbow Surgery Helps Cyclist Gear Up to Ride Again

After an unexpected cycling injury, a seasoned rider got reparative surgery at Michigan Medicine. Now, he’s back on the road.

7:00 AM

Author | Kylie Urban

 

A typical bike ride for Al McWilliams turned perilous after an unexpected tumble on the trail.

"I was just cruising back nice and easy, and I fell off my bicycle," recalls McWilliams, a semiprofessional bicyclist and resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

MORE FROM MICHIGAN: Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Immediately, he knew something wasn't right. His left elbow was swollen and, upon closer inspection, clearly out of place.

"It wiggled around a lot," says McWilliams. "I checked the other one. They're not supposed to do that."

He headed to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Center for treatment and found himself in a hospital for the first time.

"Al experienced an olecranon fracture of the elbow," says Aaron Perdue, M.D., assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the musculoskeletal center. "Typically with an injury such as this, we perform internal fixation with a plate and screws."

After McWilliams' injury Aug. 1 and a successful surgery the next day, he began rehabilitation and got back to riding in just six weeks — a time frame that surprised both the doctor and his patient.

"The biggest deal for me was getting back on the bike as soon as possible," McWilliams says.

More Articles About: Bones, Muscles & Joints Sports Injury Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine & Fitness
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.
Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories mom and son and dog in front of the survival flight helicopter
Health Lab
Therapy dog supports teen through recovery after serious dirt bike accident
Evan Sanders had a dirtbike accident which left him with fractures across the left side of his body. During his hospital stay, service dog Barney helped Evan with his rehabilitation goals, including a visit to the Survival Flight helicopter.
 student sitting in white dress, cap and gown black with orange sitting
Health Lab
Teen heads to college after complex journey with rare neuromuscular disease
A teenager shares her journey with spinal muscular atrophy and how she’s successfully headed off to college now.
 surgery table blue yellow
Health Lab
Returning to physical activity after first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis
First metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis procedures are a common surgical intervention used to treat pain associated at the first metatarsophalangeal joint associated with degenerative changes. Michigan researchers reviewed standing research on how long it took for patients to return to physical activities after first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis to find an average time frame that could be given to patients for how long it takes.
 girl sitting on couch with brace on and standing with brace on in UM shirts
Health Lab
Live donor cartilage allows musician to return to the stage
A musician receives live donor cartilage that changes her life.
 Closeup of knee with caregiver holding the joint and examining it.
Health Lab
Lipid mediator Maresin 1 helps improve muscle regeneration
How lipid mediators -- potent regulators of the immune response after an injury -- varied with the acute loss of a large volume of skeletal muscle, also known as volumetric muscle loss (VML) is the focus of new research from the University of Michigan.
 Illustration of a surgery table
Health Lab
Is surgery the best option for ruptured Achilles tendons in young adults?
Achilles tendon ruptures are normally treated with surgical procedures, but there are other options with equal outcomes.