Managing a pulled elbow in the clinic

Abstract

Pulled elbow is one of the commonest clinical conditions encountered by the Paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. It is primarily due to axial force applied to a semi-prone forearm which leads to proximal radio-ulnar joint dislocation. Diagnosis is usually clinical and radiographs are rarely needed. Reduction maneuvers include the Traction-supination and traction-hyperpronation method and almost always cause immediate pain relief and return to function.