It is the partial dislocation of the head of the radius in the elbow joint. It usually occurs in preschool children under 5 years of age.
It usually appears as a consequence of a sudden pull of the arm, performed by an adult in a reflex manner to prevent the child from falling, while holding the child's hand with the arm extended.
It manifests with pain in the arm that typically increases on palpation of the elbow. It is typical that the arm is held with the other hand to avoid the movement that triggers pain. The child stops moving the arm, which remains slightly flexed with the hand facing inward and backward.
The diagnosis is obtained by clinical questioning, physical examination and radiography of the upper extremity.
It is solved by manual repositioning of the elbow bones, but this requires experience; otherwise, the pediatrician should be consulted to reposition the radius in the joint.
- Krul M, van der Wouden JC, Kruithof EJ, van Suijlekom-Smit LWA, Koes BW. Manipulative interventions for reducing pulled elbow in young children. Cochrane [Internet]. 2017; (7).
- UpToDate [Internet].Waltham, Massachusetts: Fields K; 2018 [actualizada el 18 de enero de 2018; acceso el 20 de febrero de 2018]. Evaluation of elbow pain in adults.
