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Shoulder dislocation

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This is a common injury - representing 50 percent of all major joint dislocations. The shoulder usually dislocates anteriorly, often caused by a fall on the hand.

Posterior dislocations are often missed. This injury is not a complete dislocation but a fracture-subluxation. In contrast to the anterior dislocation this injury is generally caused by forced internal rotation of the abducted arm or by a direct blow on the front of the shoulder.

95% of shoulder dislocations are anterior (1).

Reference:

  1. Farrar NG, Malal JJ, Fischer J, Waseem M. An overview of shoulder instability and its management. Open Orthop J. 2013;7:338-46

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