Missed cases of ‘pulled elbow’– A retrospective study of 28 cases managed at a tertiary care centre in Uttarakhand
Abstract
Introduction: The ‘pulled elbow’ is fairly common injury seen at primary care level. This injury has characteristic history, clinical presentation and imaging features. Many often the injury is missed and neglected for days and picked up later at further consultation. The missing of these injuries might be a result of gaps in our core knowledge and clinic-radiological assessment.
Method: We hereby evaluate a data of 28 cases with missed pulled elbow injuries that were treated in our institute. Various aspects of first opinions and reason for delay are described for comprehensive knowledge of gaps in the treatment.
Result: The strengthening of practical knowledge regarding this simple injury is recommended in order to diagnose and treat them in first place and avoid agony of child and parents. Lack of knowledge regarding proper assessment of elbow by clinical and radiological methods has been found to be a major cause for missed injuries.
Conclusion: The knowledge of factors responsible for delayed or missed diagnosis at initial consultation is necessary for remedial measures for its appropriate management at primary level and decrease healthcare burden at tertiary level care.
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Copyright (c) 2015 Author (s). Published by Siddharth Health Research and Social Welfare Society
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