What it is
Complete or partial separation of the elbow joint surfaces, usually after a fall onto an outstretched hand. It may involve ligament tears, fractures, nerves or blood vessels and is an emergency injury.
Typical clinical symptoms
- Severe pain, deformity and inability to move the elbow
- Swelling and bruising after trauma
- A feeling that the elbow shifts out of place with subluxation
- A cold or discoloured hand, weak pulse, numbness or weakness requires emergency care
Video
No video has been added for this condition yet.
Scientific literature
External publications selected for this topic. Their scope may cover a specific condition, population or intervention within this topic; they do not constitute an individual treatment plan.
Simple elbow dislocation.
Literature review · 2017
Elbow & Forearm
When is medical coordination needed?
Deformity after trauma, immediate inability to move the arm, severe pain with a tense forearm, a cold or pulseless hand, progressive numbness or weakness, and redness with fever require prompt medical assessment.
Descriptions are for orientation. Diagnosis follows history, clinical examination and, only when indicated, imaging or laboratory tests.
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