Posterior shoulder dislocation

Case contributed by Kevan English , 9 Feb 2024
Diagnosis certain
Changed by Liz Silverstone, 17 Feb 2024
Disclosures - updated 6 Dec 2023: Nothing to disclose

Updates to Case Attributes

Body was changed:

This is a case of posterior dislocation with a reverse Hill-Sachs impaction fracture.

Posterior dislocation is commonly missed and this results in long-term morbidity.

The humeral head is typically perched on the posterior glenoid rim and external rotation is impossible. The lack of an external rotation view should prompt closer examination.

The lateral scapular view shows the posterior displacement in this case and the Grashey view shows the glenoid fossa in profile but not the joint space. Compare this with the post-reduction Grashey view. Standard axial view is usually not possible when the glenohumeral joint is dislocated but half-axial views such as the Wallace view are diagnostic.

The Wallace view is obtained with the patient sitting with their arm in a collar and cuff. The detector is positioned horizontally behind the elbow and the X-ray tube is angled caudally 65 degrees and laterally 15 degrees, with the beam centred on the joint.

  • -<p>This is a case of posterior dislocation with a reverse <a href="/articles/hill-sachs-defect" title="Hill-Sachs defect">Hill-Sachs</a> impaction fracture.</p><p>Posterior dislocation is commonly missed and this results in long-term morbidity. </p><p>The humeral head is typically perched on the posterior glenoid rim and external rotation is impossible. The lack of an external rotation view should prompt closer examination. </p><p>The lateral scapular view shows the posterior displacement in this case and the Grashey view shows the glenoid fossa in profile but not the joint space. Compare this with the post-reduction Grashey view. Standard axial view is usually not possible when the glenohumeral joint is dislocated but half-axial views such as the Wallace view are diagnostic.</p>
  • +<p>This is a case of posterior dislocation with a reverse <a href="/articles/hill-sachs-defect" title="Hill-Sachs defect">Hill-Sachs</a> impaction fracture.</p><p>Posterior dislocation is commonly missed and this results in long-term morbidity.</p><p>The humeral head is typically perched on the posterior glenoid rim and external rotation is impossible. The lack of an external rotation view should prompt closer examination.</p><p>The lateral scapular view shows the posterior displacement in this case and the Grashey view shows the glenoid fossa in profile but not the joint space. Compare this with the post-reduction Grashey view. Standard axial view is usually not possible when the glenohumeral joint is dislocated but half-axial views such as the Wallace view are diagnostic.</p><p>The Wallace view is obtained with the patient sitting with their arm in a collar and cuff. The detector is positioned horizontally behind the elbow and the X-ray tube is angled caudally 65 degrees and laterally 15 degrees, with the beam centred on the joint.</p>

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