Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Iqbal S, Haouimi A, Knipe H, Veil of obscuration sign (shoulder). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Mar 2025) https://radiopaedia.org/articles/83138
Veil of obscuration sign is a sign of posterior shoulder dislocation. It is generally seen on AP radiographs depicting a comminuted fracture of lesser tuberosity that projects over the glenohumeral joint giving rise to a "cloud-like" density or "veil of bone" density, which hides a posterior shoulder dislocation.
Epidemiology
Veil of obscuration sign seen in up to 40% of the patients who present with posterior shoulder dislocation 1.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Fracture fragments of the lesser tuberosity are typically inferior and medially displaced, appear on plain radiographs as flat or disc-like shape.
CT
Lesser tuberosity fracture fragments are nicely seen on CT images with 2D and 3D reformats.
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1. Hirai Gimber L, Taljanovic MS, Rockov ZA, et al. The Veil of Obscuration: Additional Radiographic Sign of Posterior Shoulder Dislocation. (2018) Acta medica academica. 47 (2): 165-175. doi:10.5644/ama2006-124.228 - Pubmed
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2. The “Mouzopoulos” sign: a radiographic sign of posterior shoulder dislocation. (2010) Emergency Radiology. 17 (4): 317. doi:10.1007/s10140-010-0862-2 - Pubmed
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3. Zinon T. Kokkalis, Ilias D. Iliopoulos, Georgia Antoniou, et al. Posterior shoulder fracture–dislocation: an update with treatment algorithm. (2017) European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology. 27 (3): 285. doi:10.1007/s00590-016-1840-5 - Pubmed
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4. Doehrmann R, Doehrmann FT, Doehrmann. Posterior Shoulder Instability. (2020) . doi: - Pubmed
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