Question

An adult is swinging a small child by the arms, and the child screams and grabs his left arm. It is determined in the emergency department that the radial head is partially dislocated. What is this partially dislocated radial head documented as?

Answer 1

Answer: The partially dislocated radial head is documented as a "Subluxation."

Explanation:

Any type of partial dislocation is referred to as a subluxation. This can occur in a joint and even in an organ in the body. It is considered as structural displacement. A simple x-ray can diagnosis when a subluxation occurs. In the case listed above, it was in the shoulder. Symptoms of subluxation are visible swelling, pain in the area, unable to move the joint, and/or numbness and tingling. The subluxation may also be visible by a deformity in the shoulder area. Many times this can be fixed by using a splint, resting and using ice on the dislocated area, and elevating the arm. In some cases, surgery may be necessary, especially, if it occurs in the back.