Causes & Treatments of Elbow Dislocations

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When the joint surfaces of the elbow’s three bones are separated, the elbow is dislocated.

Elbow dislocations can be complete or partial, and usually occur after a trauma, such as a fall, motor vehicle collision, or other accident.

  • In a complete dislocation, the joint surfaces are completely separated.
  • In a partial dislocation, the joint surfaces are only partially separated. A partial dislocation is also called a subluxation.

Anatomy

Three bones come together to make up the elbow joint.

  • The humerus  is the bone in the upper arm.
  • Two bones in the forearm, the radius and the ulna, form the lower part of the elbow.

Each of these bones has a very distinct shape.

Ligaments connected to the bones keep the elbow joint together and the bones in proper alignment.

The elbow is both a hinge joint and a ball and socket joint. As muscles contract and relax, two unique motions occur at the elbow.

  • Bending occurs through a hinge joint that allows the elbow to bend and straighten. This is called flexion and extension, respectively.
  • Rotation occurs though a ball and socket joint that allows the hand to be rotated palm up and palm down. This is called supination and pronation, respectively.

Injuries and dislocations to the elbow can affect either of these motions.

Cause

Elbow dislocations are not common.

  • Elbow dislocations typically occur when a person falls onto an outstretched hand. When the hand hits the ground, the force is sent to the elbow. Usually, there is a turning motion in this force. This can drive and rotate the elbow out of its socket. This may occur through a simple fall.
  • Elbow dislocations can also happen:
    • In motor vehicle collisions when a passenger reaches forward to brace for impact.
    • When a wrestler or football player rotates their body with their hand planted on the ground.

Any time force is sent through the arm, the elbow can dislocate.

The elbow is stable because of the combined stabilizing effects of bone surfaces, ligaments, and muscles. When an elbow dislocates, any or all of these structures can be injured to different degrees.

  • A simple dislocation does not have any major bone injury but has ligament injuries.
  • A complex dislocation has bone injuries (fractures) in addition to the ligament injuries found in a simple dislocation.
  • In the most severe dislocations, the blood vessels and nerves that travel across the elbow may be injured. If this happens, there is a risk of losing the arm, meaning the arm must be amputated.

Risk Factors

You are at greater risk for dislocating your elbow if:

  • You are born with greater laxity or looseness in your ligaments
  • You are born with an ulna bone that has a shallow groove for the elbow hinge joint

Symptoms

A complete elbow dislocation is extremely painful and very obvious. The arm will look deformed and may have an odd twist at the elbow.

Signs of a partial dislocation (subluxation) may include:

  • Pain when moving the elbow
  • Bruising on the inside or outside of the elbow where ligaments may have been stretched or torn
  • A sense of the elbow shifting in and out of place spontaneously (suddenly and on its own)

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