Should acute anterior dislocations of the shoulder be immobilized in external rotation? A cadaveric study

Authors: Bruce S. Miller, MD, David H. Sonnabend, MD, Cameron Hatrick, MD, Sean O’Leary, MD, Jerome Goldberg, MD, Wade Harper, MD, William R. Walsh, PhD

References: J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2004 Nov-Dec;13(6):589-92.

Abstract
The high recurrence rate associated with anterior shoulder dislocations may reflect inadequate healing of a Bankart lesion when the arm is immobilized in internal rotation. The effect of external rotation (ER) of the humerus on the glenoid-labrum contact of Bankart lesions was examined in 10 human cadaveric shoulders. The contact force between the glenoid labrum and the glenoid was measured in 60° of internal rotation, neutral rotation, and 45° of ER in 10 human cadaveric shoulders. No detectable contact force was found with the arm in internal rotation. The contact force increased as the arm passed through neutral rotation and reached a maximum at 45° of ER. The contact force returned to 0 g when the arm was returned to neutral rotation. The mean contact force at 45° of ER was 83.5 g. External rotation significantly increases the labrum-glenoid contact force and may influence the healing of a Bankart lesion.

Search ShoulderDoc.co.uk

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

ShoulderDoc.co.uk satisfies the INTUTE criteria for quality and has been awarded 'editor's choice'.

The material on this website is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between ourselves and our patients. Full Disclaimer