Luxatio erecta

Case contributed by Andrew Murphy
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient presented post fall with arm in fixed abducted position.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
x-ray

Inferior dislocation of the right glenohumeral joint (otherwise known as luxatio erecta).

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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