Chronic anterior shoulder dislocation : Aspects of current management and potential complications


Published online: Jun 27 2012

Filip VERHAEGEN, Ide SMETS, Marc BOSQUET, Peter BRYS, Philippe DEBEER

From the University Hospital Pellenberg, Belgium

Abstract

Chronic unreduced anterior dislocations of the shoulder are rare. Arterial and neurological complications in chronic glenohumeral dislocations are even less frequent. We report three cases of old anterior shoulder dislocations. Open reduction is indicated for most chronic shoulder dislocations. Arterial lesions require urgent intervention with reconstruction. Conservative treatment is advised for most neurological complications.