Posterior prosthetic shoulder dislocation

Case contributed by Tom O'Graphy
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Wrong move (no fall or major trauma), sudden shoulder pain and inability to move the arm, no vascular or neurologic complication but intense pain and arm blocked against the chest.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female

Shoulder

x-ray

No fracture, shoulder prosthesis, dislocation of the humeral head posteriorly to the glenoid, better seen on the lateral view.

Case Discussion

Since the dislocation mechanism appeared to be a wrong move, an attempted reduction was performed under analgesia and conscious sedation, but was unsuccessful and required the assistance of an orthopedic surgeon under general anesthesia.

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