Pigluxation: Pain In The Elbow In Children

Elbow dislocation or pig dislocation is when the elbow joint is displaced or ends up at an angle. It usually happens if a child stumbles while holding an adult in the hand or if you pull on the arm. It is harmless and does not cause permanent discomfort, but is painful. Here we tell you everything you need to know about this pain in the elbow in children.

Pain in the elbow in children

Pigluxation is a common injury among young children from the time they learn to walk (around one year) until around four years. Usually it is due to a hard jerk in the arm.

It is uncommon for children over the age of 5 to be affected because their joints are much stronger. Basically, the condition is a result of a bone in the elbow ending up obliquely, more specifically the radius bone in the forearm. This does not mean that the bone has become completely out of joint and is not dangerous.

However, the child probably does not want to move the arm, as all movement hurts in the affected leg.

There is a greater tendency for the injury to affect the child’s left arm. This is probably because most caregivers are right-handed. Due to the pain, the child refuses to move his arm and keeps it close to the body. Maybe the child supports the forearm on the abdomen with a slight bend in the elbow.

Once the child has been examined, the nurse or doctor will put the elbow back in place. The injury has no long-term side effects for the child.

What are the symptoms of pigluxation?

Normally, the ligaments hold the bone in place, but a sudden fall or jerk can stretch the ligament too much so that the bone partially slides out. In most cases, children with elbow dislocation cry immediately after the jerk. It is also likely that they do not want to use the affected arm at all.

Therefore, if you think your child has been affected, you should seek immediate medical attention. You can, for example, visit the doctor on call, or visit the emergency department at a hospital.

Do not forget that the longer the leg is misplaced, the more difficult it will be to put it back in place. It will also take your child longer to fully recover. Unfortunately, moving the leg back is painful, but it only lasts a moment.

If for some reason it is difficult to move the leg back or if your child is still not using the injured arm, you should take an X-ray to check if there are any other injuries, as it can also be a fracture.

What precautions can families take at home?

Once the doctor has treated the dislocation, the child can resume normal activities. However, it is possible that the child may need to take painkillers for one or two days if the elbow remains partially displaced for a long time. Follow the recommendations given by the nurse or doctor to gradually relieve the pain.

If your child still has not restored his arm the following day, you should return to the doctor, who can then re-evaluate the arm. Remember that the injury will not cause any permanent discomfort to the child as long as a doctor treats it quickly and correctly.

To avoid this pain in the elbow of children, you should be careful not to lift the child in the arms or wrists. Rather, it is best to lift a child under the armpits. It is recommended that you learn the proper way to carry your child and show others who regularly take care of him or her.

Finally, we would like to remind you that some children are more likely to suffer from pigluxation. It can even happen more than once. Pain in the elbow can recur several times in children with particularly loose joints.

Do not worry too much if your child is affected. Just make sure your child gets prompt medical attention if this happens.