Spine and Sports Medicine NYC

Most people are familiar with tennis elbow but we rarely hear of a common injury in children, Nursemaid’s elbow. This injury is a partial dislocation of the elbow, which occurs when the lower part of the arm (forearm) slips out of its normal position at the elbow joint, caused by a sudden pull on the extended arm. Nursemaid’s elbow generally affects children under the age of five and occurs when a child is picked up or swung around too hard by the hand or the wrist. It is often seen after someone lifts a child up by one arm.

Causes

• Trying to lift the child over a curb or high step
• When a child is forcibly pulled along or lifted by the forearm
• Swinging a young child from the arms while playing

Signs of Injury

• The child usually begins crying immediately and refuses to use the arm.
• Some children stop crying as the immediate pain goes away but continue to refuse to move the elbow.
• The child may hold the arm so that it is slightly bent at the elbow and pressed up against the stomach. 
• The child will move the shoulder, but not the elbow. 

Once the elbow dislocates, it is likely to do so again, especially in the 3 or 4 weeks following the injury, so don’t wait around. If your child is experiencing pain, give us a call at Spine and Sports. 

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