Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
You currently have no access to view or download this content. Please log in with your institutional or personal account if you should have access to through either of these
The Bone & Joint Journal Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from The Bone & Joint Journal

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

POSTERIOR DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER

Report of Six Cases



Download PDF

Abstract

1. Six cases of posterior dislocation of the shoulder are described.

2. In four cases the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds.

3. The important clinical signs are the adducted and medially rotated position of the arm, a hard mass posteriorly below the acromion representing the displaced humeral head, and limitation of movement, especially abduction and lateral rotation.

4. In two cases the dislocation was not recognised at the first examination. This confirms the statement of previous authors that posterior dislocation is easily missed.

5. The value of the vertical projection in the radiography of suspected posterior dislocation is emphasised.

6. Reduction was accomplished without difficulty in five cases and the subsequent progress of these was uneventful. In the remaining case reduction was difficult and unstable, and the final recovery incomplete. It is considered that this patient would have been better treated by early open reduction.

For access options please click here