Anterior shoulder dislocation. A simple and rapid method for reduction.

Abstract

Anterior shoulder dislocation is a common skiing injury. Several methods are available for reduction of shoulder dislocations. We evaluated a method for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation that has not previously appeared in the literature. This method is performed with the patient seated in a chair with the chair used as countertraction. The physician applies traction to the affected shoulder using downward pressure on a loop of stockinette wrapped around the patient's forearm. Our method was successful in 97% of 118 anterior dislocations with no complications. Ninety-three percent were performed without the use of narcotic analgesia.