HealthInfo Canterbury
Overview of broken elbows in children
Mō ngā tuke kua whati ki ngā tamariki
We can bend, straighten, and turn our lower arm (forearm) because of three bones that make up our elbow joints, and the way they work together.
The bone in our upper arm, going from our shoulder to our elbow, is called the humerus.
In our forearm, there are two bones:
- The radius goes from your elbow to the thumb side of your wrist. This is the bone that rotates when you turn your hand palms up or palms down
- The ulna goes from your elbow to the little finger side of your wrist. It acts like a hinge in your elbow, letting you bend and straighten it.
It's common for tamariki (children) to break an elbow – this injury accounts for about 10% of all childhood broken bones.
Tamariki Children do lots of things that put them at risk of falling and injuring their elbow. This includes playing on jungle gyms, playing sports such as gymnastics or football, and activities such as skateboarding or cycling. Toddlers can break their elbow even if they fall from a lower height.
Usually a broken elbow happens when a tamaiti (child) falls onto an outstretched arm, falls directly on to their elbow, or gets a direct blow to their elbow.
Wearing protective elbow guards and pads during risky activities can help to reduce the risk of a broken elbow.
Symptoms of a broken elbow in children
When a tamaiti child breaks an elbow they will probably feel sudden, intense pain in their elbow and forearm, no matter which bone is broken. Other common symptoms include:
- swelling around their elbow
- numbness in their hand. This means a nerve may be damaged
- not being able to straighten their arm.
Diagnosing broken elbows in children
If your tamaiti complains of a sore elbow after a fall and can't or will not move their arm, it's important to see your GP or after-hours clinic.
Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions about the injury, examine their elbow and take an X-ray to find out which bone is broken, and how it broke.
Sometimes broken elbows in tamariki can be difficult to see on X-rays, so your doctor may X-ray both elbows, to compare them. Often, they will also X-ray above and below the elbow, to make sure there are no other injuries, like a broken wrist. Very occasionally, they may send your tamaiti for other tests, such as a CT scan (which shows complex breaks more clearly) or MRI scan (which shows any soft tissue injuries).
Treating broken elbows in children
Treatment for a broken elbow depends on exactly where the break is and how much the bones have moved apart (displacement). If the break is simple and uncomplicated, your tamaiti may just need a cast on their arm while it heals.
On the next page:Treating broken elbows in children
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2022.
SourcesReview key: HISAA-362960
