What type of injury is commonly associated with the mechanism of a 'nursemaid's elbow'?

Nursemaid's elbow, or radial head subluxation, typically occurs in young children when a sudden pulling force is applied to the arm, often when an adult pulls the child upward or when the child falls and the arm is yanked. This injury is characterized by the displacement of the radial head relative to the annular ligament, leading to pain and limited mobility of the affected arm.

Since the radial head subluxation involves only a partial dislocation of the radial head rather than a complete dislocation or fracture, it is considered a more common and age-appropriate injury in children, particularly those between 1 and 4 years old. The mechanism of an abrupt pulling force allows for this type of injury to occur without significant force, therefore reinforcing that the correct answer focuses on the subluxation of the radial head as the typical injury associated with nursemaid's elbow.