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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffIn adults, the most common causes of a dislocated elbow include:
- Falls. Falling onto an outstretched hand can pop the upper arm bone out of alignment within the elbow joint.
- Motor vehicle accidents. The same type of impact can occur when passengers in motor vehicle accidents reach forward to brace themselves before a collision.
In young children, the injury often occurs when an extra pulling motion is applied to an outstretched arm. Examples include:
- Improper lifting. Trying to lift or swing a young child by the arms can cause the elbow to dislocate.
- Unexpected drops. Having the child suddenly step off a curb or stairstep as you're holding his or her hand can pull the elbow out of alignment.
References
- Khan SO, et al. Elbow dislocations in the adult athlete and pediatric patient. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/172412241-3/919462328/2079/36.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00019-1--s1270_2729. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Elbow dislocations and fracture-dislocations. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00029. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Geiderman JM, et al. Elbow dislocations. In. Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00049-9--s0350&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00049-9--s0355&uniq=172423062&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&sid=919484592. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
- Kuhn MA, et al. Acute elbow dislocations. Orthopedic Clinics of North America. 2008;39:155.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
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