Elbow Dislocation

Question 1

What is a dislocation?

Answer 1

When a bone is displaced from a joint.

Question 2

When and how would an elbow dislocation occur?

Answer 2

Often in contact sports or when falling from height.
Mechanism is a rotatory force resulting from falling on an outstretched hand with shoulder abducted and forearm supinated causing a forced flexion at the elbow.

Question 3

Any complications for an elbow dislocation?

Answer 3

Major is cut off of blood supply to the forearm, requires a check of pulse in forearm of damaged limb.

Question 4

How would you treat an elbow dislocation?

Answer 4

Put back in place by holding the arm at a 45 degree angle at joint, holding anterior of the humerus and applying force through the forearm which should click it back into place.
Stability of the collateral ligaments needs to be assessed.
Check for fractures to radius head and coronoid process of the ulna, if so requires a sling for 2-3 weeks.
Immediate mobilisation under supivision to reduce likelihood of losing any range of motion.
Surrounding muscles should be strengthened to reduce likelihood of injury recurring.
Taping on return to sport. But should be fairly fast return if no complications.