Radial head subluxation, known as pulled elbow or nursemaid's elbow, is a common presentation to the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED). Fifty per cent of children present following an unwitnessed injury or with an atypical history. Furthermore, examination can be difficult in an upset or frightened child meaning the precise location of the injury is not always easily identifiable. Many children receive upper limb x-rays unnecessarily and others undergo attempted reduction for suspected pulled elbow when a fracture is the cause of their pain.
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McCreary et al. (2024) studied this question.
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