Summary A 9‐year‐old donkey jenny (212 kg) presented with an acute, nonweight‐bearing left forelimb lameness of 24‐ to 36‐h duration. The limb was held in flexion and abduction, with the toe above the ground, and was unable to be manually straightened. There was significant palpable swelling along the medial aspect of the elbow joint. Radiographic evaluation revealed a medial luxation of the elbow joint with rupture of the medial collateral ligament. Closed reduction was accomplished under injectable anaesthesia without complication. The patient was weight‐bearing and comfortable on the limb immediately upon recovery from anaesthesia. The jenny was tied and kept standing for 60 days. Full limb bandages, splints (extending proximal to the scapula), hobbles, NSAIDs and cold laser therapy were utilised, decreased and discontinued. At 74 days, a rehab programme was initiated. At 8 months post‐injury, the patient was not lame and was back to her previous level of exercise. Although elbow luxation has been described as having a guarded prognosis, there has now been success in 4/5 (80%) reported cases when treatment has been attempted. Closed reduction without surgical intervention in adult animals with elbow luxation can be successful, likely dependent on the level of associated injury.

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