Divergent dislocation of the elbow in an 11-year-old child

In this report divergent dislocation of the elbow in an 11-year-old boy and its outcome is presented. His right upper limb was trapped in a water irrigation machine and sustained an extreme pronation thrust through the hyperextended elbow. He had also suffered from a segmental fracture of both bones of the forearm and a fracture of the humerus. The median and ulnar nerves were functionless at his presentation. Considering the 16 cases described in the literature, different types of divergent dislocation of the elbow and the plausible mechanisms in producing this type of injury are reviewed.