Question

a young mother brings her 3 year old son, ethan, to your office for evaluation of the left elbow. she explains that ethans dad was playing with him in the backyard yesterday and swung him around a few times while holding his wrists. she also explains that ethan hasnt been using his left arm since yesterday. after doing a thorough history taking and examination, you come up with the diagnosis of \functional disuse following nursemaids elbow\. which of the following commonly results from a forceful longitudinal pull of the forearm of a child? a) superior subluxation of the ulna from the annular ligament b) inferior subluxation of the ulna from the annular ligament c) superior subluxation of the radial head from the annular ligament d) inferior subluxation of the radial head from the annular ligament

Explanation:

Nursemaid's elbow, also known as radial head subluxation, occurs when the radial head is pulled out of its normal position relative to the annular ligament. A forceful longitudinal pull on the forearm (common in young children, as in the described scenario) causes the radial head (not the ulna) to sublux. The direction is inferior because the pull is distally (towards the hand), so the radial head moves inferiorly out of the annular ligament's grip.

Answer:

d) Inferior subluxation of the radial head from the annular ligament