Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Osteomyelitis of the ulnar head in a presumed “pulled elbow”
  1. R Gorman1,
  2. A Mohammed2
  1. 1
    Emergency Department, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK
  2. 2
    Emergency Department, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax, UK
  1. Dr R Gorman, Emergency Department, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford BD4 6RJ, UK; richard.gorman.uk{at}gmail.com

Abstract

The “pulled elbow” is a common emergency department diagnosis that presents with a classic history and examination. A differential diagnosis should be sought in all children with atypical clinical features or in those in whom manipulation is unsatisfactory. The importance of follow-up should also be highlighted in the atypical pulled elbow. An unusual presentation of osteomyelitis of the ulnar head initially diagnosed as a pulled elbow in a 9-month-old boy is discussed. This case was further complicated by the lack of inflammatory response to infection and the manifestation clinically of signs apparently within the elbow rather than the osteomyelitic inferior radioulnar joint.

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.