X-ray of an elbow dislocation                                                     Example of a hinged elbow brace

Elbow Dislocations

Elbow dislocations are unusual injuries in which the bones forming the elbow joint are traumatically separated. These are traumatic injuries that often require patients to go to the emergency room to have the elbow reduced (put back in place).  After reduction, the arm is placed in a long arm splint and an arm sling.  The elbow joint is unusual in that is functions almost purely as a hinge joint and it is normally tightly constrained by the ligaments surrounding the joint.  When a person dislocates their joint, some or all of the constraining ligaments are damaged.  In the worst case, several of the ligaments completely rupture and the elbow remains unstable even in a cast. In evaluating patients with elbow dislocations my initial concern is to try to determine if the ligaments are partially or completely ruptured and how stable the joint is in a splint or cast.  X-rays are helpful to assess the alignment of the joint and CT scans or an MRI may be necessary to fully assess the injury. In uncomplicated cases, I keep patients in a long arm cast about 2 weeks and then transition them to a hinged elbow brace. The most common complication of dislocation long term is joint stiffness and an inability to fully straighten (extend) the elbow.