EC Paediatrics

Elbow injuries are a common presentation in children to the emergency department, and approximately 10% of children with a forearm fracture will also have an injury involving the elbow joint. Slightly more common in boys than girls, elbow injuries can occur at any age. Supracondylar fractures are the most common type of elbow fracture in children, accounting for 65 - 75% of all pediatric elbow injuries. Other common elbow injuries in children include lateral epicondyle fractures, medial epicondyle fractures, radial neck fractures, elbow process fractures, and elbow dislocations. With a propensity for risk-taking behavior, such as climbing on playground equipment and swinging from swings, children aged 5 to 8 years have the highest rate of acute elbow fractures and dislocations. Adolescents tend to have a lower rate of fractures than younger children but often suffer from chronic overuse injuries. However, sports- and recreation-related fractures can also occur in this age group. Although elbow fractures are not as common as other types of forearm fractures, they must be diagnosed promptly because they often require surgical intervention to prevent adverse outcomes.

 Keywords: Pediatric Elbow Injuries; Elbow Injuries; Elbow Region; Fractures Pediatric Elbow Dislocations; Common Elbow Injuries

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