My toddler suddenly stopped using her arm and I took her to the pediatrician. He said she had "nursemaids' elbow. What is this condition? Should he have gotten x-rays?

Nursemaids' elbow usually occurs when an adult or sibling pulls a toddler up on a curb or lifts the child by one arm while playing. The youngster suddenly begins to cry and refuses to use the arm. What has happened is that one of the forearm bones, the radius, has slipped out of the ligament that holds it into the elbow (partial dislocation). Youngsters can suffer repeated bouts of nursemaids' elbow, possibly because the initial episode leaves the ligament weak. The injury is easily treated by holding the elbow below the joint in one hand. The child's arm is then flexed at the elbow to 90 degrees and twisted outward so the palm faces up. A click is usually heard or felt, and the child begins using their arm within the hour. Parents can easily be taught to do this procedure if their child is prone to repeated episodes. X-rays are not required unless the diagnosis is in doubt. You can prevent "Nursemaid's elbow" by always lifting a child under both arms rather than pulling the youngster up by their outstretched arms.

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