The epidemiology and treatment of radial head subluxation
L. Quan and E. K. Marcuse
The incidence and treatment of radial head subluxation were evaluated in
emergency room and private office settings. Factors associated with
recurrence and with successful reduction were identified, and ways to
prevent this common injury were sought. Of 54 reductions during which a
click was either felt or heard, all but one reduction resulted in reuse of
the arm within 30 minutes. Of 13 reductions in which a click was neither
felt nor heard, only four reductions resulted in reuse of the arm within 30
minutes. A supination maneuver resulted in reuse of the arm within 30
minutes in all 27 patients seen two or more hours after injury vs 85%
(34/40) of patients seen less than two hours after injury. Remanipulation
12 to 106 hours later resulted in reuse of the arm in all those children
who had failed to respond to previous treatment.
