Elbow dislocation

Synonyms for elbow dislocation

• Elbow dislocation

What is an elbow dislocation?

An elbow dislocation occurs when the bones of the forearm shift out of their normal position relative to the upper arm bone following an injury. The two bones of the forearm are the ulna and the radius; the bone of the upper arm is the humerus. The elbow is then dislocated. A subluxation refers to a partial dislocation, while a complete dislocation completely separates the joint surfaces.

Most often, the forearm moves backward: the ulna and radius dislocate together from the humerus ¹.

Doctors classify elbow dislocations into two types. A simple dislocation involves the ligaments—the strong bands that connect the bones—without a significant fracture. A complex dislocation combines the dislocation with a fracture, which complicates treatment. ^{2, 3}

What are the causes of an elbow dislocation?

An elbow dislocation can be caused by a fall, a direct blow, or a severe twisting of the arm. Common causes include:

• A fall on an outstretched hand (the most frequent mechanism)
• A fall onto the elbow or arm
• A direct impact to the elbow (checking in hockey, tackling in football)
• An extreme twisting motion of the elbow (the arm remains locked in place while the body continues to move forward)
• When a young child has their arm pulled and then refuses to move their elbow, it may be a case of painful pronation: the head of the radius—the part of this bone located near the elbow—slips along the ligament that holds it in place. This condition is different from a complete elbow dislocation ⁴. A healthcare professional should examine the child and realign the bone if this diagnosis is confirmed. Do not attempt to do this yourself.

Pain that develops gradually, without any specific injury, is less likely to be caused by a recent dislocation. An examination is still warranted if the elbow appears to be misaligned or does not function properly.

What are the symptoms of an elbow dislocation?

An elbow dislocation usually causes sudden pain, difficulty moving the arm, and sometimes visible deformity.

The main signs include:

• Elbow pain that develops quickly after the injury and an inability to move the arm as usual
• Feeling that the elbow has popped out of place
• Deformation of the elbow compared to the other one

There may or may not be swelling and a bruise (ecchymosis).

When should you go to the emergency room after a dislocated elbow?

Une luxation possible du coude exige une évaluation immédiate à l’urgence, même sans engourdissement ni changement de couleur. Certains signes peuvent indiquer une atteinte d’un nerf ou de la circulation et doivent être signalés immédiatement (selon l’Académie américaine des chirurgiens orthopédistes⁵). N’attendez pas de voir s’ils persistent :

• Numbness in the arm or hand
• A loss of sensation in the arm or hand
• Cold, pale, or bluish hands or fingers, which may indicate poor blood circulation
• An inability to move the hand or fingers

How is an elbow dislocation diagnosed?

The doctor diagnoses the dislocation by examining the arm and checking the position of the bones on an X-ray. He or she will ask you how the injury occurred, then check for sensation, range of motion, and circulation in the hand.

How does the doctor put the elbow back in place?

Le médecin remet les os en place par une manœuvre appelée réduction. Des médicaments contre la douleur et, souvent, des médicaments pour vous détendre ou vous endormir brièvement facilitent le geste. Une anesthésie locale ou régionale peut aussi insensibiliser la zone selon la situation (d’après le Manuel Merck, édition pour les professionnels⁶). Le médecin vérifie ensuite la stabilité du coude. Une protection temporaire est suivie de mouvements progressifs dès que la blessure le permet. Une opération peut être nécessaire si le coude reste instable ou si des fractures associées doivent être réparées.⁷

Si vous pensez avoir une luxation, allez d’abord à l’urgence. La radiographie et l’examen servent notamment à rechercher une fracture associée. Ne tentez pas de remettre le coude en place et ne forcez pas ses mouvements (selon St John Ambulance⁸).

When to consult in physiotherapy for an elbow dislocation?

Physical therapy begins after the elbow has been reduced, according to the schedule and range of motion authorized by the doctor. The doctor will establish a rehabilitation plan and may refer you to a physical therapist to help you gradually resume your activities.

Pour une luxation simple et stable, reprendre les mouvements tôt favorise une récupération plus rapide qu’une immobilisation prolongée. Dans un essai auprès de 100 adultes, les mouvements commencés tôt ont été comparés à trois semaines de plâtre. À six semaines, les participants avaient moins de difficulté à utiliser leur bras et pouvaient davantage plier et déplier le coude. Les résultats étaient semblables à un an. Le retour au travail était plus rapide, soit 10 jours contre 18 jours⁹. Le programme progresse ensuite vers le renforcement selon la récupération. Ce dernier volet fait partie des soins décrits par les recommandations aux patients⁵, mais l’essai ne permet pas d’en isoler l’effet ni de promettre un retour plus rapide au sport.

How should we organize the start of the sessions?

• If no immobilization is prescribed, begin the sessions as soon as the medical team authorizes movement.
• Si vous portez un plâtre ou une attelle, un dispositif qui soutient le bras, le physiothérapeute peut vous conseiller en respectant les restrictions. Une douleur qui augmente avec une sensation de plâtre trop serré, des engourdissements, des brûlures ou une enflure excessive au-delà du plâtre, par exemple aux doigts, demandent un avis médical immédiat. L’impossibilité de bouger les doigts exige une évaluation urgente (d’après les conseils de l’Académie américaine des chirurgiens orthopédistes sur les plâtres¹⁰).
• Even if you are not experiencing any pain, be sure to keep the cast or splint on for the prescribed duration. Schedule your physical therapy appointments as directed, and do not remove the cast or splint on your own.

If you're not sure when to start, ask your doctor or physical therapist to outline a schedule. The physical therapist can help you stick to the plan and refer you to your doctor if further testing is needed.

What are the physiotherapy treatments for an elbow dislocation?

Physical therapy uses gradual movements, exercises, and guidance to help you regain mobility, strength, and function in your elbow. The physical therapist begins by assessing what you can do and what remains difficult:

• Your ability to bend, straighten, and rotate your elbow
• Sensitivity in the hand and symptoms caused by movement: the nerves that pass through the elbow may be affected by the injury.
• The quality of your movements
• Your strength and the elbow's ability to remain stable during permitted movements

What treatments might be included in the treatment plan?

Based on the assessment and medical instructions, the physical therapist may:

• Gently guide the elbow's movements with your hands to help relieve pain and restore range of motion
• Vous enseigner des exercices pour retrouver :
  
  • Controlling elbow movements
  • Elbow stability and strength
  • Elbow mobility
• To provide you with exercises designed to reduce pain
• To teach you how to adjust the duration, intensity, and frequency of your activities and hobbies during recovery
• To advise you on the positions and movements that make your activities easier.

What to do at home for an elbow dislocation?

Les soins à la maison consistent à protéger le coude et à reprendre seulement les mouvements autorisés par l’équipe médicale. Si le coude vient de se déboîter et n’a pas encore été examiné, soutenez le bras dans la position la plus confortable pendant le trajet vers l’hôpital. Une écharpe ou un bandage triangulaire peut le soutenir, sans forcer la main sur le ventre ni tenter de replacer les os (St John Ambulance⁸). Après le traitement, suivez la durée d’immobilisation prescrite. S’il y a aussi une fracture, les restrictions peuvent être différentes.

Une immobilisation prolongée peut freiner le retour du mouvement. Dans un essai auprès de 50 personnes, les mouvements commencés tôt donnaient une meilleure récupération de l’extension, c’est-à-dire la capacité de déplier le coude, que trois semaines de plâtre. La raideur touchait 4 % du groupe mobilisé tôt contre 19 % du groupe immobilisé. L’essai mesurait aussi la douleur, sans montrer de différence assez nette pour conclure à un avantage entre les groupes¹¹. Une revue retrouve toutefois moins de douleur et une reprise des activités plus rapide avec un traitement qui favorise tôt les mouvements (plusieurs études³). Ces résultats encouragent une reprise guidée; ils ne justifient pas de retirer vous-même une protection prescrite.

How can you make resting positions more comfortable?

After the elbow has been reset, follow these guidelines in accordance with the prescribed precautions:

• Support the arm with a pillow or armrest, without changing the angle set by the splint. If movement is allowed and this position is comfortable, you can also support the arm by placing your hand in your pants pocket.
• If you experience pain at night or stiffness when you wake up, make sure your neck is properly supported by a comfortable pillow. Avoid sleeping with your arm behind your head or under the pillow. Support your arm with a pillow or keep it close to your body, depending on the instructions you’ve received.
• Avoid sleeping on the affected side.

How does recovery progress after an elbow dislocation?

Une luxation simple du coude évolue généralement bien après la remise en place et les soins adaptés. La fiche sur la Elbow dislocation destinée aux patients décrit des résultats habituellement favorables, tout en précisant que certaines personnes gardent une difficulté à déplier complètement le bras⁵. Un traitement qui favorise tôt les mouvements donne généralement de meilleurs résultats qu’un plâtre prolongé³. Une publication sur la prise en charge des luxations rapporte une raideur chez jusqu’à 40 % des patients et une instabilité récidivante, lorsque le coude se déplace de nouveau, chez jusqu’à 10 %¹. Ces fréquences varient selon les blessures et les populations étudiées.

After a dislocation, the elbow may remain less stable. Osteoarthritis—a condition that affects the joint and can cause pain and stiffness—may also develop. An earlier study followed 41 people for an average of nine years after three weeks in a cast. X-rays taken while applying force to the elbow showed signs of instability in 24 people, or about 59 percent, and changes in the joint in 21 people, or about 51 percent ¹². Most, however, described the function of their elbow as good or excellent. These radiographic signs are not the same as a new episode of dislocation. They do not necessarily reflect the results of current treatment approaches that resume movement early.

Who is most likely to experience an elbow dislocation?

Teenagers and young adults are particularly prone to elbow dislocations, which often occur during sports or recreational activities.

• The elbow is, after the shoulder, the second most commonly dislocated major joint in adults ²
• Elbow dislocations mainly affect adolescents and young adults ^{13, 14}
• Elbow dislocations are common among young people: adolescents aged 10 to 19 have the highest rate among the age groups studied ¹³, and another population-based study also found the highest incidence among the youngest ¹⁵. These results describe the frequency of elbow dislocations by age.
• In an American population-based study, the rates were nearly identical among men and women: their ratio was 1.02 ¹³, and another study found no clear difference between the sexes ¹⁵. Among people aged 10 to 39, however, a study published in 2026 observed a higher rate among men; sports and recreational activities were the predominant circumstances in this group ¹⁴.
• In the studies cited, the incidence generally decreases after adolescence, but dislocation remains possible at any age.
• Les sports associés à ces blessures comprennent le football, la lutte, le basketball, la gymnastique et le patinage dans l’étude américaine de population¹³. Le chapitre sur la Elbow dislocation¹⁶ mentionne aussi le patin à roulettes et la planche à roulettes. Une étude menée dans des écoles secondaires américaines retrouve surtout des luxations dans la lutte et le football chez les garçons¹⁷. Ces circonstances varient selon les sports pratiqués dans chaque population.

Sources

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Nos physiothérapeutes ont défini la stratégie de recherche, le plan et le contenu clinique de cet article. Un outil d’IA a soutenu la recherche documentaire et la révision du texte pour assurer une cohérence du contenu et du style d’écriture.