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Dislocated elbow

In a dislocated elbow, the bones forming the joint are no longer in their normal positions. This is painful and can damage blood vessels, nerves, ligaments or bone. Keep the arm still, never try to put the elbow back yourself and have the injury assessed urgently the same day.

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  • A dislocated elbow is not a sprain. The bones have shifted, and an appropriately qualified healthcare professional must examine the joint and put it back into place.
  • Never try to pull the arm or push the joint back yourself. A wrong movement can damage an artery, nerve, ligament or an unnoticed fracture.
  • Without squeezing, check whether the fingers are warm and their usual colour, and whether the person can feel touch and move the fingers gently.
  • Support the arm exactly as it lies. Do not let the person eat or drink until a doctor says it is safe, because anaesthesia or a procedure may be needed.
  • After the joint is put back, follow-up X-rays, a splint and targeted aftercare are often needed. Keeping it completely still for too long increases the risk of lasting stiffness.

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Further reading

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A
A dislocated kneecapWhen the kneecap dislocates, it usually moves to the outside of the knee. This often happens after a twist, misstep or sports injury and is particularly common in young people. The knee immediately becomes very painful, may look visibly deformed and can swell quickly. Do not try to push the kneecap back yourself. Assessment must also check for nerve and blood vessel problems and damage to bone and cartilage, such as an osteochondral injury.
B
Broken wristA broken wrist usually involves the end of the radius, the forearm bone on the thumb side, sometimes together with other bones or ligaments. Pain, swelling, bruising and difficulty moving often follow a fall onto an outstretched hand. A wrist can be broken without an obvious change in shape. Remove rings, support the arm, do not straighten the wrist yourself and have the injury assessed the same day.
B
Broken footA broken foot means one of the bones in the foot is cracked or broken. Pain, swelling, bruising and difficulty putting weight on it are common, but you can still walk with some fractures. Protect the foot, never straighten a foot that is out of position yourself, and have a suspected fracture medically assessed.