Paediatric transverse divergent dislocation of the elbow


Published online: Jun 27 2006

Praveen Basanagoudar, Alistair Pace, David Ross

From Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling, and KingsMill Hospital, Sutton in Ashfield, United Kingdom

Abstract

Paediatric elbow dislocations are uncommon injuries, accounting for 3-6% of all elbow injuries in childhood. A divergent elbow dislocation is an even more infrequent injury, where in addition to the elbow dislocation there is divergence of the proximal radius and ulna, either in a transverse (extremely rare) or in an anteroposterior plane, as a result of the distal humerus being forced between the proximal ends of the forearm bones. The lesion results from indirect forces transmitted to the elbow from a fall on the outstretched hand. The authors report a case of transverse divergent elbow dislocation in an 8-year-old boy, treated by closed reduction and immobilisation in a cast. At 6 months follow-up the patient had regained a full range of motion, without instability or pain.