Shoulder dislocation

Background

• Cochrane review notes lower complications, equal pain control, and shorter ED stay with intra-articular lidocaine vs. procedural sedation
  • 20mL of 1% lidocaine intra-articular injection

Types

• Shoulder dislocation
  • Anterior shoulder dislocation
  • Posterior shoulder dislocation
  • Inferior shoulder dislocation

Differential Diagnosis

Shoulder and Upper Arm Diagnoses

Traumatic/Acute:

• Shoulder Dislocation
  • Anterior shoulder dislocation
  • Posterior shoulder dislocation
  • Inferior shoulder dislocation
• Clavicle fracture
• Humerus fracture
• Scapula fracture
• Acromioclavicular joint injury
• Glenohumeral instability
• Rotator cuff tear
• Biceps tendon rupture
• Triceps tendon rupture
• Septic joint

Nontraumatic/Chronic:

• Rotator cuff tear
• Impingement syndrome
• Calcific tendinitis
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Biceps tendinitis
• Subacromial bursitis
• Cervical radiculopathy

Refered pain & non-orthopedic causes:

• Referred pain from
  • Neck
  • Diaphragm (e.g. gallbladder disease)
• Brachial plexus injury
  • Rucksack paralysis
• Axillary artery thrombosis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Subclavian steal syndrome
• Pancoast tumor
• Myocardial infarction
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism

Management

• See individual type

See Also

• Shoulder diagnoses

Sources

• Roberts:Clinical Procedures in EM. 5th ed
• https://www2.aofoundation.org/wps/portal/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3hng7BARydDRwN3QwMDA08zTzdvvxBjIwN_I_2CbEdFADiM_QM!/?redfix_url=&implantstype=&segment=Proximal&bone=Humerus&classification=11-A1.3&showPage=redfix&treatment=Operative&method=Closed%20reduction%3B%20screw%20fixation

External Links

• Good all-round shoulder reduction technique lecture
• Keeping Up in EM Shoulder Reduction Video