Luxatio erecta fracture dislocation

Case contributed by Alexandra Stanislavsky
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall from a tree.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Male

The cardiomediastinal contour is normal. The lungs and pleural spaces are clear.

Significant finding at the edge of the field of view is the inferior shoulder dislocation, with arm in a forced elevated position, and concurrent humeral head fracture with extensive comminution.

In this case, the viewer may be alerted to the pathology by the "wise owl perched on the clavicle" sign.  This is an uncommon sign with a poor positive and negative predictive value, and in general should not be relied upon.

Case Discussion

An inferior shoulder dislocation (also known as luxatio erecta) is an uncommon subtype of shoulder dislocation.  The typical presentation is the patient being unable to lower their arm following a traumatic injury.

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