Have a child complaining of elbow pain with or without an injury? Remember, children often times do not remember the injury, so do not go by that alone in your history first of all.

If the patients elbow pain is accompanied with swelling, then something is usually wrong.

Nursemaid’s elbow and simple strains do not usually swell.

If there is swelling present, then be thinking of a supracondylar or lateral condyle fracture. The child needs an urgent x-ray, splinting and an orthopedic referral.