Dislocated Elbow

A dislocated elbow is one of the most common injuries that occur when you fall. It happens when you fall on your outstretched hand and the bones in your elbow are knocked out of position. In adults, it's second only to a dislocated shoulder. But dislocated elbows are common among children and adolescents, too. In fact, in children, the elbow is the most commonly dislocated joint. You'll know when it happens. You'll feel immediate intense pain, your elbow won't bend and it swells.

Treatment

If you think your elbow is dislocated, try to immobilize it and go to a doctor immediately for evaluation and treatment. Your doctor or emergency room physician will put your dislocated elbow back into place right away. You may need a local anesthetic. If your injury is more than several hours old, you may need general anesthesia because of swelling and muscle spasm.

Once your elbow joint is back in place, your doctor may flex, extend and rotate your arm to make sure it is stable and capable of all its motions. Your doctor may also take X-rays to check for other injuries such as fractures and nerve damage. In some cases, these injuries may require additional treatments, including surgery.

Assuming your elbow was stable after your doctor put it back in place and you have no other major injuries such as a fractured bone in the elbow, you will wear a splint for only a few weeks. You may take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to ease any pain. Your doctor will tell you when you're ready to begin exercises to work your elbow back to full function. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take many months of physical therapy for your elbow to return to normal function.