$Unique_ID{PAR00059}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Dislocated Elbow}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Dislocated Elbow Elbows arms arm Pain hand wrist Swelling yanked
pulled forearm dislocation luxations joint luxation subluxation subluxations
bones radius ulna radioulnar dislocations joints hands wrists dislocates}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Dislocated Elbow


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Pain in the arm (anywhere from the elbow to the wrist), particularly if
       it is known that the arm was yanked or pulled
     - Holding the arm against the side with the palm facing back
     - Pain when trying to turn the palm forward
     - Swelling of wrist and hand

     HOME CARE
     - The first time you suspect a dislocated elbow, see your doctor for
       proper treatment.
     - If the elbow becomes dislocated often, your doctor may teach you how to
       correct a dislocated elbow at home.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Do not try to correct a dislocated elbow unless you have been taught
       the proper procedure by a doctor.
     - Do not use the procedure for correcting a dislocated elbow unless the
       symptoms exactly match the description and you are sure the arm has
       been yanked.  A fracture of a forearm bone can cause similar symptoms.
     - A dislocated elbow should be treated as soon as possible (within a few
       hours).
     - Be especially careful for three to four weeks after dislocation.  A
       dislocation can easily recur during the healing period.
     - Do not lift children by pulling on their hands, wrists, or arms.


     A luxation, or dislocation, of a joint occurs when the bones are out of
their proper place in the joint.  In a dislocated elbow the bones are not
completely out of place; therefore, it is more properly named a subluxation,
or partial dislocation.  It is the only common dislocation in young children.
It frequently occurs between the ages of one and three years; it is rare
beyond the age of four.
     The elbow contains two separate joints.  The larger is a hinge joint that
allows the forearm to bend and to straighten in relation to the upper arm.
The smaller, less obvious joint of the elbow is between the upper ends of the
radius and ulna (the two bones of the forearm).  This smaller joint allows the
forearm to rotate, to turn the palm up and down.  It is this smaller joint
(the radioulnar joint) that is partially dislocated when there is a sudden
yank on a child's hand or wrist.  It may occur when a parent tries to save the
child from a stumble or fall.  It may also occur when a child is swung around
by the wrists in a game or when the child tries to grab a handhold to prevent
falling.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     When an accident causes a dislocated elbow, there is immediate pain.  The
pain may be felt anywhere from the elbow to the wrist.  The child refuses to
use the affected arm, clutching it against the side with the other arm.  The
child holds the affected arm with the palm of the hand facing backward.
Attempts to turn the palm forward cause pain.  Swelling of the wrist and hand
develops several hours later.
     If you know that the arm has been yanked and the child holds the arm with
palm facing backward, a dislocated elbow is a likely cause.  However, if you
do not know that the arm has been pulled, you may not realize the cause of the
problem.  A dislocated elbow is commonly mistaken for an injured wrist.

HOME CARE

     As soon as you suspect that your child has a dislocated elbow, see your
doctor.
     Dislocation of the elbow tends to recur.  There is a simple procedure for
correcting a dislocated elbow, which your doctor may teach you if your child's
elbow becomes dislocated often.  (Caution:  Do not attempt to correct a
dislocated elbow unless you have been taught the proper procedure by a
doctor.)  If this maneuver is done within a few hours of the accident, a sharp
snap or click will be heard and actually felt near the elbow.  The child is
relieved of pain and soon can use the arm freely.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Do not use the procedure for correcting a dislocated elbow unless the
     symptoms exactly fit the description and you are sure that the arm has
     been yanked.  A fracture (break) of a forearm bone can produce similar
     symptoms.
  -  A dislocated elbow should be treated as soon as possible.  If the elbow
     has been dislocated for more than a few hours, correcting it may be more
     difficult because of the swelling; also, the arm may be sore and not
     fully usable for one to two days after correction.
  -  Even after a dislocated elbow has been corrected, the joint remains
     susceptible to dislocation for three to four weeks.  Be careful.
  -  Do not lift a child by pulling on the hands, wrists, or arms.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor will determine if the elbow has been dislocated.  An x-ray
examination may be ordered to be sure that there are no broken bones.
(Sometimes, positioning the arm for the examination returns the dislocated
bone to its proper place.)  When the diagnosis is certain, your doctor will
correct the dislocation using the standard procedure mentioned.

RELATED TOPICS:  Fractures; Sprains and dislocations