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  • Elbow subluxation
  • Nursemaid’s elbow

  • 832 Dislocation of elbow
  • 832.0 Closed dislocation of elbow
  • 832.00 Closed dislocation of elbow, unspecified
  • 832.01 Closed anterior dislocation of elbow
  • 832.02 Closed posterior dislocation of elbow
  • 832.03 Closed medial dislocation of elbow
  • 832.04 Closed lateral dislocation of elbow
  • 832.09 Closed dislocation of elbow, other
  • 832.1 Open dislocation of elbow
  • 832.10 Open dislocation of elbow, unspecified
  • 832.11 Open anterior dislocation of elbow
  • 832.12 Open posterior dislocation of elbow
  • 832.13 Open medial dislocation of elbow
  • 832.14 Open lateral dislocation of elbow
  • 832.19 Open dislocation of elbow, other
  • 832.2 Nursemaid's elbow

  • S53.016A Anterior dislocation of unspecified radial head, initial encounter
  • S53.116A Anterior dislocation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint, initial encounter
  • S53.146A Lateral dislocation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint, initial encounter
  • S53.136A Medial dislocation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint, initial encounter
  • S53.033A Nursemaid's elbow, unspecified elbow, initial encounter
  • S53.096A Other dislocation of unspecified radial head, initial encounter
  • S53.196A Other dislocation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint, initial encounter
  • S53.026A Posterior dislocation of unspecified radial head, initial encounter
  • S51.009A Unspecified open wound of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
  • S53.006A Unspecified dislocation of unspecified radial head, initial encounter
  • S53.106A Unspecified dislocation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint, initial encounter

Description

  • Traumatic injury to the elbow
  • Displacement of the ulna and radius in a posterior, anterior, or lateral direction
  • Mechanism of injury is a forced hyperextension.
  • Typically from fall on outstretched elbow
  • Traumatic unidirectional blow to the elbow
  • Forceful twisting of the elbow while in a flexed position
  • Nursemaid’s elbow
    • Subluxation of the radial head

Essentials of Diagnosis

  • Injury warrants immediate medical referral for imaging studies, relocation (often under anesthesia), and evaluation of neurovascular structures around the elbow.
  • Traumatic event/mechanism of injury, resulting in obvious deformity, pain, and acute inflammatory response
  • Injury commonly observed in contact sport athletics, but also in other situations where traumatic blow or fall occurs

General Considerations

  • Most common direction is posterior dislocation of ulna and radius.
  • Comprehensive evaluation of all neurovascular structures around the elbow necessary after relocation
  • Examination of all ulnar and lateral collateral ligament branches necessary after relocation to assess for possible injury
  • Post-reduction radiographs required, and other advanced imaging techniques possible to evaluate for associated fractures or additional soft tissue injuries
  • Humeroulnar joint is generally stable once reduced but often results in elbow flexion contracture that needs to be managed by rehabilitation provider.
  • “Dislocation” can also refer to isolated radius dislocation.
    • Injury can be result of similar trauma
    • Dislocation of radial head is termed “pulled elbow syndrome,” which results in radial head slipping under the annular ligament due to tractional force through the radius.2
    • Fibers of interosseous membrane not aligned to optimally resist distraction force, as they do to compression force

Demographics

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