Pulled elbow — advice for parents and carers
What to expect after your child's pulled elbow, and how to stop it happening again.
Your child had a "pulled elbow" — a common and harmless slip of a ligament in the elbow of young children. It has been gently put back, and they should soon be using the arm normally again.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
These are unusual after a pulled elbow, but need an ambulance.
- The arm or hand looks pale, blue or cold
- Your child is very unwell, drowsy or hard to wake
- You cannot get them to hospital safely
Bring them back to the ED or the service named above to be checked.
- They are still not using the arm normally within a few hours of the elbow being put back
- The arm is swollen or bruised, or looks bent or out of shape
- They are in a lot of pain, or the pain is getting worse
- They have a high temperature (fever)
- You are worried it is something else
Most children start using the arm again within 5 to 30 minutes of the elbow being put back, and many are using it normally before they leave. If your child is not using the arm normally after a few hours, it needs re-checking — occasionally the elbow does not go back first time, or there is another injury. Pulled elbow can happen again, so avoid lifting or swinging your child by the hands or wrists.
What to expect
- They may be a little sore at first.
- Most children start using the arm normally within about 30 minutes to an hour.
- You can offer paracetamol if they need it, following the instructions on the packet.
- Comfort and reassure them — they will soon settle.
Stopping it happening again
- It happens when a young child's arm is pulled, swung or lifted by the hand or wrist.
- Lift them from under the arms instead.
- Tell anyone who looks after your child to do the same.
- It can keep happening until around the age of 5, then becomes much less likely.