Bilateral Elbow Dislocation After Trauma in a Healthy Adult Female

Abstract

Bilateral elbow dislocation is a rare injury. We report a rare case of a simultaneous bilateral traumatic elbow dislocation in a 28-year-old previously healthy Kenyan female. Initial clinical assessment and plain radiographs showed the possibility of an associated fracture at the right capitulum. CT scan demonstrated bilateral fractures at the capitulum simultaneously. This case was managed conservatively through a closed reduction under procedural sedation as a joint effort of orthopedics and the emergency department. Three days later, the left above elbow backslap was removed and the patient was discharged on analgesics and referred to the outpatient clinic for regular follow-up and physiotherapy. At seven weeks, the patient reported improvement of pain bilaterally and mild stiffness at the right elbow that is continuing to improve with physiotherapy.

Bilateral Elbow Dislocation Without Fracture After Minor Trauma in a Healthy Adult Man

“…Cases of bilateral elbow dislocation have more powerful energy mechanisms than cases of unilateral elbow dislocation (8). Mechanisms such as falling off a cross-country bike, falling from a broken ladder, and sports injuries have been documented in the literatüre (9).…”