An elbow dislocation occurs when the bones in the elbow are pulled apart, causing the ligaments that keep the bones together to either stretch or tear. It may take up to 8 weeks for the joint to heal after it has been reduced (put back in place). Elbow dislocations are typically the result of a fall, where the elbow is hit during the fall, or gets hyper-extended from landing on the hand with the elbow in a straight position.
The symptoms that the elbow is dislocated include severe pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty or inability to move the joint or entire arm, and the actual joint may look deformed.
Your doctor will order an x-ray of the elbow to see if the tips of any of the bones are broken, as well as to confirm the dislocation. The bones will have to be put back into place, and if it is a really bad dislocation, you may require surgery. After treatment, you will have to wear a splint and/or a sling to keep the joint from moving for a couple of weeks.
It is extremely important to seek medical care immediately, as the dislocation can pinch or damage the radial and ulnar nerves in the elbow, and cause decreased sensation in the forearm and hand if they are allowed to stay pinched for very long. A dislocated elbow should be considered an emergency and may warrant a trip to the Emergency Room. The longer that the injury goes untreated, the more difficult it will become for a doctor to reduce the dislocation, as all of the ligaments and muscles that are being stretched will get inflamed and tight, making reduction that much more difficult.
Following the reduction of the dislocation, you should ice the joint for 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first couple of days, and attempt to keep your arm elevated above your heart to keep inflammation to a minimum. You should also leave your splint on for as long as your doctor advises. Prescription medicine, provided by your physician, should be taken as prescribed. Over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can also be taken to aid with both pain and inflammation. Most importantly, take special care to not re-injure the arm.
