“How do you fix a dislocated elbow?”

A true elbow dislocation requires emergency orthopedic care. I dislocated bone in the elbow in a baby it’s called a nursemaids elbow. Only one bone is partially out of place. That is a very different situation. Just located elbows typically require anesthesia and manipulation to put the bones back in place. In addition, ligament damage is also a likely end result of a dislocation. An MRI would be necessary. Sometimes the ligaments need to be repaired surgically. In any event physical therapy is almost always necessary. The elbow joint does not tolerate injury very well.

A true dislocated elbow is very very painful. Only an X-ray can tell exactly what is going on. If it is dislocated, it needs to be "set" by an orthopedic surgeon and placed in a cast for 3 weeks. If there are associated fractures, then they need to be fixed as well.
Hope it helps!!

Dr. Bose

Dislocated elbows are very very painful and need to go to the ER for reduction. The subsequent care usually depends on the extent of damage, which might include surgical fixation of the bone w/wo ligaments.