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Question: Nursemaid’s
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Kelly July 28, 2021 - 12:46 am
A) The left arm is more frequently affected
Nursemaid’s elbow is a subluxation of the radial head involving the annular ligament. The classic mechanism is a longitudinal traction force (pulling) on the child’s hand, hence the left arm is more frequently affected as caretakers are more often right-handed. Although much less common after age 5 years, when the annular ligament is thicker, it can occur in 6-7 year olds, and has even been reported in as old as 11 years. The child typically holds his/her arm adducted, pronated, and slightly flexed at the elbow; any attempt to move the arm causes pain but no obvious deformity, swelling, or effusion is present. The hyperpronation reduction method has been shown to be less painful and slightly more successful than the supination-flexion method.