INFERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS

Course overview

THE GLENOHUMERAL JOINT OF THE SHOULDER IS THE MOST COMMONLY DISLOCATED JOINT IN THE BODY AND ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 50% OF ALL MAJOR DISLOCATIONS SEEN IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. MOST SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS ARE ANTERIOR, AND INFERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS OCCUR ARE MUCH LOWER FREQUENCIES. INFERIOR DISLOCATIONS ARE GENERALLY NOT DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE AS THE CLASSIC PRESENTATION IS NOT SUBTLE AND CAN OFTEN BE MADE FROM THE DOORWAY OF AN EXAM ROOM. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF INFERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.