Pulled elbow (also known as nursemaid's elbow) is a subluxation of the radial head into the annular ligament, which usually spontaneously or easily reduces ...×ArticlesLogInCasesSignUpCoursesQuizBlogDonateAbout×MenuSearchADVERTISEMENT:Radiopaediaisfreethankstooursupportersandadvertisers.BecomeaGoldSupporterandseenoads.ArticlesCasesCoursesLogInLoginSignup{"url":"/signup-modal-props.json?lang=us\u0026email="}ArticlesCasesCoursesQuizAboutBlogGoad-freeSearchPulledelbowsyndromeDrAliAlsmairandAssocProfFrankGaillard◉◈etal.Pulledelbow(alsoknownasnursemaid'selbow)isasubluxationoftheradialheadintotheannularligament,whichusuallyspontaneouslyoreasilyreducesandrarelydemonstratesabnormalradiographicfeatures.Itshouldbedistinguishedfromthedislocationoftheradialhead. Onthispage:Article:EpidemiologyClinicalpresentationPathologyRadiographicfeaturesTreatmentandprognosisRelatedarticlesReferencesImages:CasesandfiguresEpidemiologyPulledelbowsareencounteredinyoungchildren(typicallybetween6monthsand3yearsofage) 1,asaresultofpullingonthearmlongitudinally,asoccurswhenyankingachildawayfromsomethingtheparentswouldrathertheynottouch,orliftingthechildinplay(fathersaremuchmorelikelytodothis). ClinicalpresentationChildrenwithapulledelbowwillholdtheelbowflexedandtheforearmpronated,unwillingtosupinate1. PathologyThepropensityofyoungchildrentodeveloppulledelbowsmostlikelystemsfromageneralizedligamentouslaxity,whichalsoaffectstheannularligament,allowstheradialheadtosubluxintoit.Intheyoungerchildren,thisresultsinnoligamentousdamage,whereasinolderchildrenpartialtearsarethoughttooccur,accountingforthepersistenceofpainanumberofdaysfollowingreduction1. RadiographicfeaturesRadiographyisunhelpfulinmakingthediagnosis,butmayinadvertentlyresultinareductionofthesubluxationastheradiographersupinatestheelbowtoobtainanAPview1-2. TreatmentandprognosisSupinationwiththeelbowflexedalmostalwaysresultsinareduction,andininfantsalmostimmediatecessationofsymptoms.Olderchildrenmayhaveanumberofdaysofongoingdiscomfort.Onlyrarel