NURSEMAID’S ELBOW: CAUSES AND TREATMENT (MUST READ FOR EVERY PARENT)

Nursemaid’s Elbow or Radial dislocation is a health condition commonly found among children under 5, and refers to the dislocation of a bone in the elbow, known as the radius. The dislocation often occurs when the bone slips away from its natural Position (at the elbow joint).

Radial dislocation mostly happens when a child is pulled up hard on one arm, but apart from that, there are other ways the injury can occur…like; rolling over in an unusual way, swinging a young child from the arms while playing, etc. Once the elbow dislocates, it is likely to do so again, especially in 3 or 4 weeks after the injury.

Radial dislocation usually doesn’t affect children above five because after age 5, a child’s elbows and the structures around them are much stronger. However, there may be a few cases where the injury can occur in an older child, especially if the forearm has been fractured.

The following symptoms usually follow Nursemaid’s elbow…

– When the injury occurs, the child usually begins crying right away and refuses to use the arm because of elbow pain.

– The child may hold the arm slightly bent (flexed) at the elbow and pressed up against the belly (abdominal) area.

– The child will move the shoulder, but not the elbow. Some children stop crying as the first pain goes away, but continue to refuse to move the elbow.

This condition can be remedied. So, as soon as you notice your child in pain or feeling uncomfortable with an arm, first of all, apply ice to the affected elbow and try to keep the areas above and below the elbow from moving—when this is done, take him/her to the hospital immediately for examination and treatment by a health professional. Do not try to do it yourself to avoid worsening the situation.

The injury may reoccur severally after the first time; your physician may show you how to handle it, so you can fix it yourself.

If nursemaid’s elbow is not treated, the child may be permanently unable to fully move the elbow. With treatment, there is usually no permanent damage, but in some cases, the child may have problems that limit movement of the arm.

Don’t forget to avoid lifting a child by one arm only, either from the wrist or hand. If you must, lift from under the arms, from the upper arm, or from both arms. Do not swing children by the hand or forearm. If you must, provide support under the arms and hold the upper body next to yours.

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