Luxatio erecta

Case contributed by Andrew Murphy
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient presented to ed with arm in fixed abducted position. Unknown mechanism.

Patient Data

Age: 29 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Luxatio erecta, inferior shoulder dislocation, no obvious fracture. Both projections taken supine.

Case Discussion

Luxatio erecta accounts for less than 1% of all glenohumeral dislocations. Clinically an inferior dislocation is unique, patients will present with the affected arm in a fixed abducted position.

Yet radiographically the anterior-posterior protection can easily mimic a subglenoid anterior dislocation- making it imperative to always obtain orthogonal views of the suspected dislocation. The current literature suggest that with formal follow up the long-term results of treatment is positive. 

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