Pinnacle Guru · Published archive
Collab Topic - Occupational Therapy
Published
**DEFINITION:A pulled elbow is a result of the lower arm (radius bone) becoming partially dislocated (slipping out) of its normal position at the elbow joint. A pulled elbow is caused by a sudden pull on a child's lower arm or wrist, for example when a child is lifted up by one arm. It can also happen when a child falls.
**What causes nursemaid’s elbow?
Nursemaid’s elbow occurs when the ligament that holds your child’s radius in place at their elbow joint slips and the end of their radius shifts out of position, leading to their elbow becoming partially dislocated.
Even a little force can be enough to pull a young child’s elbow joint out of place. Common nursemaid elbow causes include:
**Swinging your child around by the hands or arms.
**Lifting your child up by the hands.
**Pulling your child’s arm through a jacket sleeve.
**Catching your child from falling by the hand.
**Pulling your child suddenly by the hand to avoid danger.
**What are the symptoms of nursemaid’s elbow?
*If you didn’t witness the injury, nursemaid’s elbow symptoms might not be obvious. Children will cry from the pain at first, but they might not complain much afterward. It won’t cause swelling. Pay attention if your child:
**Cries or expresses pain immediately after being pulled by the arms or hands.
**Has pain in their wrist and/or shoulder.
**Avoids moving or refuses to move their arm below their shoulder.
**Supports one arm with their other hand.
**Holds their arm straight or slightly bent and close to their body.
**Refuses to rotate their palm.
**DIAGNOSIS:Your child’s healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about what happened at the time of injury. The physical exam will test your child’s range of motion and gently feel for tenderness at the elbow. Imaging tests aren’t required and often won’t show evidence of nursemaid elbow. However, an X-ray may rule out a fracture or break.
**TREATMENT:pulled elbow in a child is usually treated by a doctor or nurse gently moving the arm to pop the bone back into place. This is called a reduction and can take only a few seconds. The child may cry briefly, but should feel better quickly and be able to use their arm again soon.
**Here are some other things to know about treating a pulled elbow:
**Pain relief
If there is discomfort, the doctor may recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
**Sling
**If the elbow can't be put back right away, or if the child needs more rest, the doctor may put a sling on the arm for 1–2 days.
**Return to normal
**Most children can use their arm normally within 20 minutes, but it may take longer.
#RaiseAgainstAutism
#PinnacleSaysItAll
#PinnacleBloomsNetwork
#1AutismTherapyCentresNetwork
Discuss a useful next step for your child
Speak with Pinnacle about your questions, a child-specific assessment and everyday support.