Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow Quiz
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Arm does not move on one side only
Knee does not move
My elbow hurts
Have joint pain
Pain in the arm
Can't bend my arm
Hip joint does not move
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow?
A nursemaid’s elbow, or “pulled elbow,” occurs when the ligament that holds the radius in place at the elbow joint slips and the end of the radius shifts out of position. As a result, the elbow becomes partially dislocated. It is most common in toddlers and preschoolers between 2 to 5 years old, when the ligaments are still immature. It is rare in children older than 6 years whose bones are typically stronger and more mature and is temporary and does not cause permanent damage. Symptoms may include immediate pain in the injured arm and elbow, and sometimes pain in the wrist or shoulder, refusal or inability to move the injured arm, holding the arm still and straight at their side, possibly with the elbow slightly bent and the hand turned toward the body.
Typical Symptoms of Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow
- Child started crying after elbow was pulled
- No effort to move the elbow, elbow hangs loosely and cannot be bent
- Elbow pain
- Arm pain
- Joint pain, swelling, or discomfort
- Weakness in your arms or legs
- Difficulty moving the joint(s)
- Arm pain started after falling on an outstretched hand
Diagnostic Questions for Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Did your child cry after their elbow was pulled?
- Is your elbow painful and difficult to bend?
- Do you have pain in your elbow?
- Are you experiencing arm pain?
- Are you experiencing joint pain, swelling, or discomfort?
Treatment of Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow
The doctor will use a method to put the elbow joint back in place - called relocation. In some cases, painkillers or medicine to calm the child may be given.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Krul M, van der Wouden JC, van Suijlekom-Smit LW, Koes BW (2012). Manipulative interventions for reducing pulled elbow in young children. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22258973/Kaplan RE, Lillis KA (1992). Recurrent nursemaid's elbow (annular ligament displacement) treatment via telephone. Pediatrics.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12093966/Vitello S, Dvorkin R, Sattler S, Levy D, Ung L (2014). Epidemiology of nursemaid's elbow. The western journal of emergency medicine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25035767/