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.