Pulled elbow in children: a case series including 66 patients.

Abstract

The aim of this case series was to assess the data of 66 children (mean age 28 months) with a diagnosis of pulled elbow. The most common time interval of injury was 12-6 p.m. and spring was the peak season. Children younger than 2 years of age had a higher rate of atypical injury history. A successful reduction by supination and flexion maneuver was achieved at the first attempt in 57 of 66 patients. The patients admitted to the hospital within the first 2 h following the injury had a higher rate of successful reduction at the first attempt. The rate of radiographic examination was considerably high and a well-defined algorithm to avoid the complicacy in ordering a plain radiograph in such cases was suggested. All patients achieved full clinical recovery after a mean follow-up of 2 years, and recurrence was observed in 16 of 66 children.