Reconstruction of the articular surface of the humeral head after locked posterior shoulder dislocation: a case report

Posterior dislocations of the glenohumeral joint are extremely rare (2–4% of all shoulder dislocations) and often associated with bone or ligamentary injuries. Though the reverse Hill-Sachs lesion is a common injury associated with posterior shoulder dislocation, there have been only few articles describing specific treatments for this type of humeral head defect. This article describes the successful operative treatment of an acute locked posterior shoulder dislocation by reconstructing the articular surface of the humeral head with the use of autologous bone graft taken from the iliac crest. The patient was doing quite well with no complaints, good range of shoulder motion and no recurrence of posterior shoulder dislocation despite several epileptic seizures, 1.5 years after surgical reconstruction of the anatomy of the humeral head. His right shoulder function revealed to be “excellent” or “good”, assessed with an absolute Constant Score of 76 points and a relative Score of 88% when compared with an age- and sex-matched normal population.     

Eine neue Repositionstechnik für die verhakte hintere Schulterluxation

The case of a 61-year-old male with posterior dislocation of the right shoulder joint is presented and a new technique for closed reduction of posterior locked shoulder dislocation is described. The technique involves four steps: in step 1 a constant traction is applied on the injured arm, in step 2 the arm is internally rotated and in steps 3 and 4 the second arm of the physician is used as a lever arm to lateralize and ventralize the shoulder. Lateralization and ventralization of the humeral head are essential to engage the humeral head and to pass it around the glenoid during reduction. Steps 3 and 4 are performed simultaneously. In the presented case the patient suffered a traumatic shoulder dislocation with a rim fracture of the glenoid. After reduction the shoulder was stable and conservative treatment was performed. A 2 year follow-up examination revealed a pain-free and stable shoulder with free range of motion and an Oxford instability score of 48 points. The described reduction technique for posterior locked shoulder dislocation is a simple and gentle technique, which can be performed easily by one person.Presentation of a reduction technique for locked posterior shoulder dislocation. Constant traction and internal rotation is performed for engaging the locked humeral head. After disengaging the humeral head the reduction is performed by using the arm of the physician as a lever arm.     

Modified MacLaughlin procedure in the treatment of neglected posterior dislocation of the shoulder

Posterior dislocation of the shoulder is an unusual injury that most often occurs secondary to a highenergy trauma. Unfortunately the diagnosis is commonly missed, thus making its treatment a challenge. Neglected posterior dislocation is mainly characterised by an impression fracture on the anterior articular surface of the humeral head, which makes the dislocation often difficult to reduce. Diagnosis is based upon a careful history assessment, physical examination and radiological findings. Several treatment approaches have been described. The modified MacLaughlin procedure in our hands has been shown to be a reproducible technique allowing good results at medium- and long-term follow-up. According to our experience it is possible to adopt this technique also in patients with a locked posterior dislocation older than 6 months or in cases with a humeral head defect up to 50% when a shoulder prosthesis is not a good indication. Poorer results should be expected in patients with an associated fracture of the proximal humerus.     

Osteochondral autograft and hemiarthroplasty for bilateral locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder

Posterior shoulder dislocations are rare and account for less than 4% of all shoulder dislocations, with only 6.6% of these proving to be bilateral. More importantly, the majority of posterior shoulder dislocations continue to represent a diagnostic trap for the unwary physician who first sees patients with this condition. This report describes the treatment of a locked bilateral posterior dislocation of the shoulder with an associated impression fracture of both articular surfaces of the humeral heads due to an epileptic seizure. The osteochondral autograft obtained from the left humeral head was sutured to the dominant (right) side and the hemiarthroplasty was performed on the contralateral non-dominant shoulder. Posterior bilateral dislocation of the shoulder is still a diagnostic challenge. In the chronic setting, bilateral hemiarthroplasty should be postponed as long as possible since posterior bilateral dislocation is usually experienced by middle-aged active males.     

Osteoarticular allograft reconstruction for hill-sachs lesion in an adolescent

Glenoid and humeral head bone loss is the most common cause of failure after surgical shoulder instability stabilization. Large Hill-Sachs lesions involving >30% of the articular surface of the humeral head typically occur after neglected or locked shoulder dislocations. Such large lesions may require osteochondral allograft reconstruction or prosthetic replacement to regain shoulder stability and function.Previous reports of osteochondral allograft reconstruction have focused on adults. This article describes a case of a 16-year-old autistic boy who sustained an anterior dislocation of the right shoulder following a seizure episode. The dislocation was diagnosed 12 days later as a progressive deformity, and his parents noticed his inability to use his upper extremity. The patient had a large (30%) humeral head Hill-Sachs lesion and persistent anterior shoulder instability after initial closed reduction. He underwent an open osteochondral allograft reconstruction for the restoration of the humeral head articular surface. The sizing of the defect, matching harvest of the allograft, and perfect fit of the allograft to the defect are critical steps to ensure congruent restoration of the humeral head. The allograft was stabilized in the defect of the humeral head using cancellous screws placed from below the articular surface. Radiographs 20 months postoperatively showed complete incorporation of the osteochondral allograft. At 30 months postoperatively, his shoulder was stable and functional.     

Anatomical reconstruction for Reverse Hill-Sachs lesions after posterior locked shoulder dislocation fracture: a case series of six patients

Introduction Posterior locked shoulder dislocation fracture is a rare injury. Impression fractures of the humeral articular surface are common with this injury. Different methods exist to restore impression fractures. We present a case series and the results of six patients that had an anatomical repair with spongiotic autograft/allograft for humeral head impression fractures after locked posterior shoulder dislocation. Material and methods Six patients with an average age of 52.5 years at time of surgery were included. All patients had an anteromedial impression fracture, one patient had an additional two part fracture. The injury was caused by epileptic seizures in five and by direct trauma in one patient. The diagnosis was made on the day of the injury for two patients (33%). For the other patients the time span between the injury and the diagnosis ranged between 5 and 180 days. The impressed cartilage of the defect was first elevated in one piece, the defect filled with the graft and the cartilage fixed on top of the graft by Mitek ancres introduced under the affected area. One patient had an additional two-part fracture that was fixed separately. Results At a mean time follow-up of 62.7 (18–95) months the result was found to be excellent for two patients and good for four patients with a mean Constant Score of 88.2 points (range 83–98). One patient had a redislocation after three months that was fixed by the same method. At the last follow-up no redislocation or graft collapse was seen. Conclusion The proposed method of anatomical head reconstruction by spongiotic auto/allograft proved to be a valid and good method to restore shoulder function and stability.     

Verhakte hintere Schulterverrenkung

Whereas anterior dislocation of the shoulder is very common, posterior dislocation occurs in less than 2% of all cases. The diagnosis of posterior shoulder dislocation—especially in locked position—is difficult. The exact knowledge of the position of the humeral head within the shoulder joint is extremely significant, as the following case shows. The posterior shoulder dislocation was primarily recognized and treated correctly, while radiographics after reduction were misinterpreted. In this paper diagnostic and therapeutic measures are described.     

Locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder joint: Report of two cases

Posterior dislocation of the shoulder joint is very rare. Most cases are missed initially because it is difficult to diagnose using conventional radiographic images. Computed tomography (CT) is the best tool for diagnosis. We report two cases of posterior dislocation of the shoulder joint that were missed initially at another hospital. The patients presented with painful disability of the shoulder joint. Posterior dislocation of the shoulder joint was suspected after physical examination. Anteroposterior radiography was unable to confirm the diagnosis because an abnormal posterior relationship of humeral head to glenoid fossa could not be clearly identified. An axillary view was unobtainable because of severe pain and the limited joint motion available. CT showed posterior dislocation of the humeral head. The bony defect of the humeral head was incarcerated by the posterior rim of the glenoid process. Open reduction via an anterior approach was performed on both patients, who recovered with good shoulder function after rehabilitation (the Constant score of Case 1 was 85 and that of Case 2 was 75). We concluded that “Mouzopoulos sign” obtained via an anteroposterior view is helpful for the diagnosis of posterior dislocation of the shoulder joint and that CT is required for a definitive diagnosis. If the dislocation is locked and closed reduction fails, then open reduction should be carried out.     

陈旧性交锁肩关节后脱位手术治疗

目的 评价肱骨关节面复位加大块植骨治疗陈旧性交锁肩关节后脱位的疗效及结果.方法 2002年3月-2008年4月,对18例陈旧性交锁肩关节后脱位的患者,采用肱骨关节面复位加大块植骨进行手术治疗.全部患者受伤至接受手术时间平均为5个月,术前CT检查证实为陈旧性交锁肩关节后脱位,其中8例肱骨头前缘缺损(反Hill～Sachs征)在20%～25%之间,10例在25%～45%之间.结果 术后随访1～4年,平均2.6年.肩关节功能采用Constant评分:优7例,良9例,中1例,差1例;优良率为88.8%.1例患者术后肩关节僵直,但未有复发脱位.UCLA评分最高35分,最低13分,平均30分.结论 采用肱骨关节面复位加大块植骨治疗创伤导致陈旧性交锁肩关节后脱位,疗效肯定,肩关节功能恢复良好.     

Arthroscopic Reduction and Repair of a Locked Posterior Shoulder Dislocation

Locked posterior shoulder dislocations are an uncommon but difficult problem for the orthopaedic clinician. Furthermore, they are often missed on initial presentation, resulting in significant delays in treatment. Traditional treatment has involved formal open reduction, most commonly from an anterior approach, followed by transfer of the lesser tuberosity or subscapularis tendon into the anterior humeral head defect. We present the case of a patient with locked posterior shoulder dislocation, who was treated with arthroscopically assisted reduction followed by arthroscopic posterior stabilization. Use of this technique allows the surgeon to reduce the dislocation without performing an open arthrotomy, thereby decreasing the patient’s overall morbidity. Furthermore, an arthroscopic technique used for stabilization allows visualization of the entire glenohumeral joint and enables the surgeon to directly address posterior disease, rather than compensating for the defect with an anteriorly based transfer.     

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Locked Posterior Dislocation of the Shoulder Treated with Shoulder Arthroplasty: Improved Outcomes for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty are Associated with Increased Age

Locked shoulder dislocations account for up to 5% of shoulder dislocations. These relatively rare injuries are characterized by dislocation of the humeral head from the scapular glenoid cavity with the humeral head incarcerated on the glenoid in a “locked” fashion. Diagnosis is often delayed because of the complexity of clinical presentation and subtle radiographic findings, resulting in locking of the humeral head out of the glenoid cavity with severe functional deficits. Most commonly, there are bony injuries to the glenoid and humeral head that engage and prevent closed reduction. Since few patients present with this injury, evidence-based treatment guidelines have not been established. The objective of this review is to assess postoperative outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty for locked posterior shoulder dislocations (LPSD) to guide best practices for treatment. This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching the PubMed and Web of Science databases for original articles assessing outcomes following arthroplasty for locked posterior shoulder dislocations. Seven publications that evaluated 102 patients were included. Additionally, nine case studies were included, assessing 20 shoulder arthroplasties. Overall, the analysis demonstrated significant improvement in shoulder pain following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) (P = 0.0003). Older operative patient ages for TSA resulted in significantly improved modified Neer outcomes scores and patient satisfaction compared to younger patients (P = 0.047). A positive correlation was noted for the duration of dislocation and necessity for revision surgery following hemiarthroplasty (HSA) and TSA combined and TSA separately. The risk ratios assessing the incidence of postoperative complications (RR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.28–1.11) and necessity for revision surgery (RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.24–1.39) were insignificant but noted outcomes favoring TSA. Data from the included studies show that both TSA and HSA are efficacious at treating locked posterior shoulder dislocation. Postoperative outcomes following TSA versus HSA are similar. TSA may be a more efficacious surgical treatment in elderly patients, with improved outcomes and patient satisfaction scores compared to younger patients. Early diagnosis and treatment of posterior locked dislocations may lead to reduced postoperative complications and revision surgery, signaling the importance of proper injury investigation and early treatment. The role of RSA in the management of locked posterior shoulder dislocation remains to be determined, as there is insufficient clinical outcome data currently in the literature.     

Locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder: Treatment using arthroscopic removal of a loose body

We report a case of locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder successfully treated with arthroscopic removal of an intraarticular loose body and flattening of the impression fracture of the humeral head. A 2-year follow-up shows excellent clinical results and no redislocation. We also describe the arthroscopic findings of this pathological situation.     

Proximal humerus Salter type III physeal injury with posterior dislocation

Salter type 3 fractures of the proximal humerus are rare injuries. We report the first case of a Salter type 3 physeal fracture with posterior dislocation of the proximal humerus in a 16-year-old boy. The fracture pattern could not be evaluated by simple radiography, but was possible with the aid of MRI. The dislocated humeral head was locked behind the glenoid labrum. Open reduction was mandatory. Sixteen months after the operation, avascular necrosis of the humeral head was detected by simple radiography and MRI. Even though the patient had a full range of motion of the shoulder and no pain, a long-term follow-up is believed necessary.     

Traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation: a case with modification of Gerber procedure for humeral head reconstruction at 10-year follow-up

We report a case of acute traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation in a 41-year-old patient, which we treated surgically by a modification of the procedure described by Gerber for humeral head reconstruction in such cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan, which also helped us to assess the size of the antero-medial humeral head defect or impaction secondary to the dislocation; the size of this defect being a determinant element for the indication. Because the shoulder was unstable after closed reduction and almost 50% of the humeral head was impacted, we carried out a surgical treatment using an original technique as mentioned above. Radiologic and surgical features of acute traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation are discussed with special emphasis on diagnosis, indications and surgical aspects of this rare lesion, which represent 2–4% of acute traumatic shoulder dislocations.     

Modified technique for reconstructing reverse Hill–Sachs lesion in locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation

Background

Among the uncommon and frequently missed orthopedics injuries is the posterior shoulder dislocation, accounting for about 2–4 % of all shoulder dislocations. Commonly, it is associated with the well-known reverse Hill–Sachs lesion. Several surgical treatment modalities such as transfer of subscapularis tendon or lesser tuberosity, humeral rotational osteotomy, osteochondral grafts were used to repair this defect. Hemiarthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty was used as salvage procedure in non-constructable defect or neglected old dislocation.

Patients and methods

This study included 11 patients with locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation and reverse Hill–Sachs defects falling in the target range (25–50 % of the head size). The mean age of the patients was 39 (range 31–49) years. Mean time from injury to surgery was 9 (range 3–18) weeks. Open reduction in the dislocated head with the transfer of subscapularis tendon and the attached lesser tuberosity was done to reconstruct the reverse Hill–Sachs defect. The transferred tuberosity was fixed with size 5 Ethibond sutures.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 29 (range 24–39) months. The median of the scores was much improved, reaching 30 (range 20–34) (satisfactory) compared with preoperative median of 24 (range 20–25) (unsatisfactory). This was statistically highly significant (P = 0.002). Postoperatively, 9 patients had no pain or restricted daily living activities. No patient had symptoms of shoulder instability. According to the modified UCLA shoulder rating scale, there were 4 patients rated excellent, 5 patients rated good, one patient rated fair and one patient rated poor.

Conclusion

Reconstructing the reverse Hill–Sachs defect provides adequate stability, pain relief and function in patients with locked chronic posterior shoulder dislocation and a defect involving 25–50 % of the humeral head. The used technique is simple and cost effective with no need for subsequent hardware removal.

Level of evidence

II.

     

Locked posterior dislocation of the shoulder.

What the authors mean by locked dislocation of the shoulder is an inveterate posterior dislocation of the humeral head which remains locked within the glenoid cavity as a result of anatomopathological lesion. Based on an analysis of four cases a diagnostic-therapeutic protocol is proposed in which the clinical and radiographic data obtained allows for a reliable diagnosis and suitable treatment.     

闭合复位老年肩关节前脱位过程中发生医源性肱骨颈骨折的成因分析和对策

目的分析在闭合复位老年肩关节前脱位的过程中发生医源性肱骨颈骨折的原因并探索避免的方法。 方法对上海市第一人民医院2012年1月至2017年1月在肩关节前脱位复位过程中发生肱骨颈骨折患者的临床资料和影像学特点进行回顾性分析。 结果共5例患者在闭合复位过程中发生肱骨颈骨折,导致肱骨头、颈分离。这些患者的特征：（1）老年女性,低能量损伤,初次肩关节脱位;（2）复位前肩关节正位片：肩关节前脱位伴大结节骨折;（3）肱骨头内移至喙突下方或内侧;（4）均为无麻醉下采取Hippocrates足蹬法复位。 结论闭合复位肩关节前脱位过程中发生肱骨颈骨折的原因与复位前遗漏盂肱关节脱位时伴随的肱骨颈骨折有关。老年肩关节前脱位有其特点,在治疗上应与年轻患者加以区别。对老年初次肩关节前脱位伴大结节骨折的患者应加以特别重视,复位前规范的影像学检查以除外肱骨颈骨折是避免此类医源性并发症的关键。     

Recurrent, locked posterior glenohumeral dislocation requiring hemiarthroplasty and posterior bone block with humeral head autograft

This article describes the case of a 77-year-old man with a recurrent posterior shoulder dislocation, treated with humeral hemiarthroplasty and reconstruction of a large posteroinferior glenoid defect with a bone block created from humeral head autograft. On examination, the patient's left arm was held in internal rotation against his stomach, with minimal swelling about the deltoid. His shoulder was nontender to palpation; however, he had substantial motion restrictions, and attempted motion was painful. He could forward elevate to 30°, extend to 0°, internally rotate to belly, and passive external rotation was limited to -30°. He maintained full elbow, wrist, and hand range of motion, and his neurovascular examination was intact. Radiographs revealed a recurrent posterior glenohumeral dislocation, with a large reverse Hill-Sachs defect involving the lesser turberosity and humeral head. Computed tomography with 3-D reconstruction revealed the humeral head defect involving the lesser tuberosity and approximately 40% of the humeral head and a large comminuted posteroinferior glenoid fracture measuring 2.7×0.8 cm, encompassing approximately 30% of the posteroinferior glenoid surface. Standard fixation was not possible; therefore, the resected humeral head was fashioned into an elliptical piece mirroring the size of the defect of the posteroinferior glenoid. Rough measurements of the defect were made and marked on the humeral head, which was then cut with an oscillating saw to approximate the size and shape of the defect. The glenoid graft provided an extension to the glenoid and prevented posterior subluxation with no block to motion. One year postoperatively, he had full strength (5/5) with external rotation, forward elevation, and internal rotation, 140° of active forward elevation, 30° of external rotation, internal rotation to T7, and no episodes of instability. To our knowledge. this is the first report of this technique in the literature. It is an alternative to total shoulder arthroplasty.     

Möglichkeiten der operativen Versorgung traumatisch bedingter posteriorer Schultergelenkluxationen

Traumatic posterior locked shoulder dislocation is very rare. The dislocation is often combined with fractures of the humeral head or reversed Hill-Sachs deformities. This case report shows two different possibilities for treatment.