Elbow Dislocation

The elbow is called a hinge joint, meaning it can extend from zero to 180 degrees, or slightly further, before extending back again. This bending requires contact between the two surfaces of the joint. If this contact has been disrupted, this is called a dislocation. It can range between partial, also called a subluxation, and complete.

Most elbow dislocations are traumatic injuries. The most common mechanism of an elbow dislocation is a fall on an outstretched hand. When someone falls on an outstretched hand, the force is transmitted from the hand up through the arm and into the elbow, possibly removing the articulation between the joint surfaces. This can also occur in a car accident when someone extends their arms to brace themselves against an impending impact.

There are numerous options for treatment. A partial dislocation may only require a simple reduction in the emergency room. This is the case with a pediatric injury called nursemaid’s elbow. In this injury, someone has quickly grabbed and twisted the child’s arm, subluxing the radial head. It could lead to pathologic fractures. A complete dislocation can damage nearby bones, arteries, and nerves. This could require surgery to put back together.

There are numerous complications that can result from a severe elbow dislocation. One of the issues is that an elbow dislocation predisposes the joint pocket to an infection called osteomyelitis. In addition, the dislocation can also damage arteries and nerves in the area, leading to peripheral nerve injury requiring rehabilitation.

If a serious elbow dislocation occurs, there could be significant damage to arteries, nerves and other bones in the area. Damage to multiple locations at once is called polytrauma. Some of the most commonly injures bones include radius and ulna shaft fractures. These are the two bones that make up the wrist and are commonly injured when the elbow dislocates.

There are several injuries that must be considered:

• Medial Epicondle Fracture

• Epicondylitis

• Lateral Epicondyle Fracture

• Radius Fracture

• Ulna Fracture

The prognosis of an elbow dislocation is entirely dependent on the severity. A simple dislocation has a relatively good prognosis. The person is only at an increased risk of repeating the same injury. A complete dislocation can damage other structures in the area, leading to a more guarded prognosis.

It is unusual for a patient to require surgery for the elbow dislocation itself; however, if the dislocation is accompanied by fractures or damage to blood vessels or nerves, surgery may be required to repair these injuries and also put the elbow back together. An elbow dislocation is one of the injuries caused by car accidents that can range in severity.

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Bone Fracture Attorney. Even dislocations can lead to serious disabilities. If you’ve been injured in an accident, please call me at 916.921.6400 for friendly, free advice.

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Image Attribution: By James Heilman, MD (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

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