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Pediatric Elbow Dislocations: Acute Management
Book chapter

Pediatric Elbow Dislocations: Acute Management

Matthew Varacallo, Darshan Parikh, Kush Mody and Martin J. Herman
Pediatric Elbow Fractures, pp 169-184
14 Oct 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68004-0_12

Abstract

Traumatic elbow dislocations are uncommon in children, and account for only about 3–6% of all elbow injuries [1]. Overall, however, the elbow is the most commonly dislocated major joint in the pediatric population, and represents up to 25% of all elbow injuries in some series [2]. The injury frequently occurs with an associated fracture or avulsion injury in as many as 75% of children in one study [3], most commonly involving the medial epicondyle [4–6]. Open injuries are rare [3]. The peak incidence of elbow dislocation occurs during the second decade of life, and it is more commonly seen in males [7] and are most commonly the result of a fall onto an outstretched hand. Elbow dislocations are becoming increasingly more common in association with various sport-related activities, especially contact sports, such as wrestling and football [8]. These injuries rarely occur in children younger than 3 years of age; in this age group, a transphyseal fracture, an injury associated with child abuse, may appear radiographically to the inexperienced physician as an elbow dislocation.

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