[Painful pronation--a diagnostic pitfall in septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the elbow in infancy]

Pulled elbow is a common injury in infancy and childhood. The history and clinical findings are usually classical, but one should never forget that the classical history can always be easily reconstructed by the examining physician. It can be estimated that in 93% of all cases a dramatic response to therapy can be observed. In the remaining 7% the most common cause for failure to treatment is an incomplete or recurrent subluxation of the radial head and distortions or fractures of the elbow. But in approx. 1% the examining physician must suspect a hidden osteomyelitis or osteoarthritis of the elbow. With adequate antibiotic therapy the prognosis is generally good. To avoid this diagnostic pitfall, it is essential to re-examine carefully all cases which do not respond to therapy in order to exclude an osteomyelitis.