Causes

In adults, the most common causes of a dislocated elbow include:

• Falls. Falling onto an outstretched hand can pop the upper arm bone out of alignment within the elbow joint.
• Motor vehicle accidents. The same type of impact can occur when passengers in motor vehicle accidents reach forward to brace themselves before a collision.

In children or teenagers, falling onto an outstretched hand is also a common cause of a dislocated elbow.

In toddlers, the injury often occurs when an extra pulling motion is applied to an outstretched arm. The causes of such injuries include:

• Improper lifting. Trying to lift or swing a young child by the arms can cause the elbow to dislocate.
• Sudden pulling. Having the child suddenly step off a curb or stairstep as you're holding his or her hand can pull the elbow out of alignment.