Elbow Injuries in Children

Elbow injuries are the second-most common injury in children and afflict boys more than girls. Some elbow injuries are common in younger children and are due to parents' actions; others result from falls or sports mishaps. Some result from the repetitive moves required by a specific sport. Most injuries, if diagnosed properly and treated promptly, will heal with no complications.

Pulled Elbow

• Also known as "nursemaid's elbow," this is a common injury for infants and toddlers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). When a baby or young child is lifted, yanked or swung by the hand or wrist, soft tissue can slip into the elbow joint and become trapped. The injury usually doesn't cause swelling, but the child will typically hold her arm, slightly bent, by her side and cry out in pain if anyone tries to straighten it.

Treatment and Prevention

• A pediatrician should examine the child's elbow to rule out a possible fracture or other injury. Once pulled elbow is diagnosed, the doctor will manipulate the joint to release the trapped tissue.

  The AAP states that the risk of a pulled elbow can be greatly reduced by lifting young children properly: grasping them under their arms or around their bodies. Parents should never pull or lift their infants or young children by their hands or wrists, nor should they ever swing them by the arms.

Little Leaguer's Elbow

• While grown-ups can suffer from several sports-related overuse injuries to their elbows, including tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, the overuse injury common in children is medial apophysitis, or little leaguer's elbow. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) explains that the injury occurs when repetitive throwing causes an excessively strong pull on the elbow's tendons and ligaments. The group warns that little leaguer's elbow can be serious if it becomes aggravated, with repeated pulling causing ligaments and tendons to tear away from the bone.

Treatment and Prevention

• The AAOS writes that younger players tend to respond well to rest and ice. If the pain doesn't subside within a few days or if it comes back, the player should stop pitching or throwing and seek additional medical advice. Players might have to adjust their throwing technique. Sometimes surgery is recommended for older children.

  According to the AAOS, a young ball player can safely throw about 200 times per week---including both practice and games. The group recommends that players pitch only three to four innings in each game to limit their chances of injury.

Fractures

• Elbow fractures, which account for about 10 percent of all bone fractures in children, can occur from falling with an outstretched arm, states the AAOS. Symptoms of a fracture include acute pain, swelling and limited movement. Acute injuries should always be evaluated by a medical professional.