Inferior Shoulder Dislocation: Clinical Features, Imaging, Treatment & Complications

  • Inferior shoulder dislocation is Complete inferior displacement of the humeral head out of the glenoid
  • Inferior shoulder dislocation is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all shoulder dislocations

Mechanism of injury

  • Severe abducting force on the humerus causing hyperabduction
  • humerus will act as a lever and the acromion act as a fulcrum
  • humeral head is lifted across the glenoid socket and inferior dislocation occurs
  • humeral head stay in the sub glenoid position with the humeral shaft pointing upwards (luxation erecta)
  • Sometimes the arm drops spontaneously after the head of the humerus is slipped to a sub coracoid position leading to anterior shoulder dislocation instead of inferior

Associated injuries

  • Avulsion of the capsule and surrounding tendons
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Fracture of the glenoid or proximal humerus
  • Neurologic injury (brachial plexus) in 60% of cases
  • Vascular injury (axillary artery) in 40%

Clinical features

  • Patient present with arm is locked in abduction and forward elevation and they will be in severe pain
  • Patient can not adduct their arm
  • The head of humerus is felt in or below the axilla
  • Always examine for neurovascular damage (high risk)
  • Look for other injuries in other parts of the body

Imaging

  • On AP shoulder x ray:
    • the humeral head is sitting below the glenoid
    • humeral shaft is in abducted position
    • Look for associated fractures of the glenoid or proximal humerus to distinguish between simple dislocation (with/without tuberosity fracture) from a fracture dislocation
Shoulder AP X-rays showing inferior shoulder dislocation; by James Heilman, via Wikimedia Commons
Shoulder AP X-rays showing inferior shoulder dislocation; by James Heilman, via Wikimedia Commons

Treatment

  • Closed reduction
  • Open reduction

Closed reduction

  • Closed reduction is indicated for simple inferior shoulder dislocations mostly under sedation and sometimes under GA
  • In closed reduction, patients placed supine and then:
    • Pulling upward in the line of the abducted arm
    • At the same time, an assistant will put a sheet around the patient’s chest providing countertraction downward
    • Reexamination for neurovascular injuries after reduction
  • The arm is rested in a sling until pain subsides
  • Active movements of the elbow, wrist and hand should be started after reduction of the shoulder
  • Active movements of the shoulder are done after pain subsides and abduction is avoided for 3 weeks

Open reduction 

  • Open reduction indications
    • Irreducible inferior shoulder dislocation: If the humeral head is stuck in the soft tissues
    • In case of Fracture dislocations
  • Arthroscopic or open repair to capsulolabral structures, and rotator cuff tears after the reduction is indicated to active younger patients

Differential diagnosis

  • Postural downward displacement of the humerus due to weakness and laxity of the muscles around the shoulder
  • This occur after trauma and shoulder splintage and here the shaft of the humerus lies in the normal anatomical position at the side of the chest.
  • This condition is harmless and resolves as muscle tone is regained and must be differentiated from inferior shoulder dislocation

Course Menu

This article is apart from the Shoulder and Arm Trauma Free Course, which contain 10 lectures listed down below:

Scroll to Top