A 1998 narrative review by Cohen and Hastings covering the evaluation and management of acute elbow dislocations — both simple and complex — including reduction technique, stability assessment, indications for surgery, fracture-dislocation management, and late complications.
When you reduce an elbow dislocation, assess stability through full extension before leaving the ED — a joint that redislocates near extension needs an extension-block orthosis or surgical referral, not just a sling.
Always palpate the distal radioulnar joint and interosseous membrane to exclude an Essex-Lopresti variant, especially when a radial-head fracture is present.
A 1998 narrative review by Cohen and Hastings covering the evaluation and management of acute elbow dislocations — both simple and complex — including reduction technique, stability assessment, indications for surgery, fracture-dislocation management, and late complications.
When you reduce an elbow dislocation, assess stability through full extension before leaving the ED — a joint that redislocates near extension needs an extension-block orthosis or surgical referral, not just a sling.
Always palpate the distal radioulnar joint and interosseous membrane to exclude an Essex-Lopresti variant, especially when a radial-head fracture is present.