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Locked posterior shoulder dislocation: treatment options and clinical outcomes

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 05 August 2011

Abstract

Background

Posterior dislocation of the shoulder is a rare injury and often misdiagnosed during the initial presentation to a physician. Misdiagnosis is due to a lack of clear clinical signs compared to anterior dislocation and inappropriate radiographs. In contrast to anterior dislocations, the humeral head defect accounts for recurrent instability. Depending on the size of the defect and the duration of dislocation, different treatment options include elevation of the defect, bone grafting, McLaughlin procedure, rotation osteotomy or arthroplasty.

Methods

We reviewed 35 patients who presented to our institution with a locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder between January 1999 and August 2009. In 6 patients, the shoulder remained stable after closed reduction, so the treatment was conservative; 29 patients underwent surgery.

Results

The mean follow-up was 55 months (range 11–132 months). The interval between trauma and the diagnosis of posterior shoulder dislocation was 66 days (min. 0, max. 365). Patients treated conservatively achieved a Constant Score of 85 points; patients who underwent operative treatment had a slightly worse outcome with an average Constant Score of 79 points. There was a high correlation between the time to the correct diagnosis and the outcome.

Conclusion

Although locked posterior shoulder dislocation is uncommon and often initially misdiagnosed, satisfying results can be achieved by different surgical treatment options. Early diagnosis by detailed clinical examination and sufficient radiographic evaluation with true anterior–posterior and axillary views is essential to improve clinical results.

Levl of evidence: IV

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Waldeyerstr. 1, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Benedikt Schliemann

  2. Department of Trauma Surgery, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Daniel Muder, Jan Geßmann, Thomas A. Schildhauer & Dominik Seybold

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  1. Benedikt Schliemann
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  2. Daniel Muder
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  3. Jan Geßmann
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  4. Thomas A. Schildhauer
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  5. Dominik Seybold
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominik Seybold.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1356-8

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Schliemann, B., Muder, D., Geßmann, J. et al. Locked posterior shoulder dislocation: treatment options and clinical outcomes. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 131, 1127–1134 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1310-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1310-9

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