Question

The MOST common type of dislocation of the elbow joint is:

• A. Posterior
• B. Posterolateral
• C. Posteromedial
• D. Lateral

Hint:

Over 90% of elbow dislocations displace posteriorly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The elbow is the second most commonly dislocated major joint in adults (after the shoulder) and the most commonly dislocated joint in children. Knowing the direction is the key point here.

Step 2: More than 90% of all elbow dislocations are posterior. This makes option (a) the correct answer.

Step 3: A posterior dislocation involves disengagement of the coronoid process of the ulna from the trochlea of the humerus, with the forearm bones displacing posteriorly relative to the humerus.

Step 4: The usual mechanism is a fall onto an outstretched hand with the elbow in extension at the moment of impact. The other directions (posterolateral, posteromedial, lateral) are far less common, so they are not the best answer.