Posterior shoulder dislocation

Case contributed by Domenico Nicoletti
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Pain and limitation of left shoulder movement.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

There is the “lightbulb sign” in fact the head of the humerus is in the same axis as the shaft producing a lightbulb shape. Is associated with the “trough sign”, a vertical line made by the impression fracture of the anterior humeral head.

Light bulb sign

Annotated image

Note the associated “trough sign”, a vertical line made by the impression fracture of the anterior humeral head.

Humeral head posterior dislocation with a depressed impaction deformity medial to the biceps groove with the engaging of the humeral head on the posterior glenoid, interlocked at reverse Hill-Sachs deformity.

Case Discussion

Lesions commonly associated with traumatic posterior dislocation are the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, a posterior labral detachment, glenohumeral ligament lesions, rotator cuff tears or posterior bony fractures.

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