YouAreHere:Home→MedicalEncyclopedia→Nursemaid'selbowURLofthispage://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000983.htmNursemaid'selbowNursemaid'selbowisadislocationofaboneintheelbowcalledtheradius.Dislocationmeanstheboneslipsoutofitsnormalposition.Theinjuryisalsocalledradialheaddislocation.CausesNursemaid'selbowisacommonconditioninyoungchildren,especiallyunderage5.Theinjuryoccurswhenachildispulleduptoohardbytheirhandorwrist.Itisoftenseenaftersomeoneliftsachildupbyonearm.Thismightoccur,forexamplewhentryingtoliftthechildoveracurborhighstep.Otherwaysthisinjurymayhappeninclude:StoppingafallwiththearmRollingoverinanunusualwaySwingingayoungchildfromtheirarmswhileplayingOncetheelbowdislocates,itislikelytodosoagain,especiallyinthe3or4weeksaftertheinjury.Nursemaid'selbowdoesnotusuallyoccurafterage5.Bythistime,achild'sjointsandthestructuresarounditarestronger.Also,thechildislesslikelytobeinasituationwherethisinjurymightoccur.Insomecases,theinjurycanhappeninolderchildrenoradults,usuallywithafractureoftheforearm.SymptomsWhentheinjuryoccurs:Thechildusuallybeginscryingrightawayandrefusestousethearmbecauseofelbowpain.Thechildmayholdthearmslightlybent(flexed)attheelbowandpressedupagainsttheirbelly(abdominal)area.Thechildwillmovetheshoulder,butnottheelbow.Somechildrenstopcryingasthefirstpaingoesaway,butcontinuetorefusetomovetheirelbow.ExamsandTestsThehealthcareproviderwillexaminethechild.Thechildwillbeunabletorotatethearmattheelbow.Thepalm willbe up, andthechildwillhavetroublebending(flexing)theelbowalltheway.TreatmentSometimestheelbowwillslipbackintoplaceonitsown.Eventhen,itisbestforthechildtoseeaprovider.DONOTtrytostraightenthearmorchangeitsposition.Applyanicepacktotheelbow.Keeptheareasaboveandbelowtheinjuredelbow(includingtheshoulderandwrist)frommoving,ifpossible.Takethechildtoyourprovider'sofficeoranemergencyroom.Yourproviderwillfixthedislocationbygentlyflexingtheelbowandrotatingtheforearmsothatthepalmfacesupward.DONOTtrytodothisyourselfbecauseyoumayharmthechild.Whennursemaid'selbowreturns