What is radial head subluxation? ... Radial head subluxation means that the radius, one of two long bones in the lower arm (forearm), has pulled away from its​ ...MyHealth.Alberta.caNetworkHomeHealthInformationandToolsMyHealthVideosFindHealthcareAboutMyHealth.Alberta.caHealthierTogetherMyHealthRecordsMyHealthAccountHealthA-ZHealthyLivingTests&TreatmentsMedicationsFindHealthcarePatientCareHandoutsMyHealth.Alberta.caHealthInformationandTools > RadialHeadSubluxationMainContentRelatedtoConditionsBones,Joints,andMusclesChildren'sHealthInfantandToddlerHealthImportantPhoneNumbersTopicContentsTopicOverviewRelatedInformationReferencesCreditsTopofthepageRadialHeadSubluxationTopicOverviewWhatisradialheadsubluxation?Radialheadsubluxationmeansthattheradius,oneoftwolongbonesinthelowerarm(forearm),haspulledawayfromitsnormalposition.Theligamentthatsupportstheradialbonethenslipsintotheelbowjoint.Whenthishappens,theradialbonecan'tmovebackintoitsnormalplace.Theradiusconnectstotheelbowjointatoneend;theotherendconnectsintothewristjoint.Whatcausesaradialheadsubluxation?Radialheadsubluxationusuallyoccursinyoungchildren.Ithappenswhenayoungchildispulledorliftedbythehandorwristwhilehisorherarmisheldstraight.Forexample,thebonecanpulloutofposition,orsublux,whenyoutrytoliftachildupontoasidewalkbythehand,pullaresistantchild'shandtogethimorhertomovefaster,orholdontoachild'shandsandswinghimorheraroundwhileplaying.Radialheadsubluxationmostoftenoccursinyoungchildrenbecausethesocketoftheelbowjointandthesupportingligamentsarenotfullydeveloped.Thisinjuryisespeciallycommoninchildrenbetweenages2and3years,althoughitcanhappenanytimebetween6monthsofageand7years.Afterage3,children'sjointsandligamentsgraduallygrowstronger,makingradialheadsubluxationlesslikelytooccur.Thisinjuryissometimescalled"nursemaid'selbow."Althoughphysicalabuseissometimesthecauseofthisinjury,mostoftenaparent,caregiver,orsiblingissimplyplayingoristryingtohelporhurryachildalong.Butiftheinjuryrecursoften,abusemaybesuspected.Whatarethesympto