Bilateral luxatio erecta complicated by venous thrombosis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Radiology

Background:

• Inferior shoulder dislocation, or luxatio erecta, is a rare injury, accounting for less than 0.5% of all shoulder dislocations.
• Bilateral luxatio erecta is exceptionally rare, with only nine previous cases reported in the English literature.

Observation:

• This paper details the tenth reported case of bilateral luxatio erecta.
• The patient sustained an axial load injury to both outstretched arms, resulting in inferior displacement of both humeral heads.
• Following closed reduction, the patient was discharged but later developed axillary vein thrombosis.

Findings:

• The study documents the mechanism of injury, clinical presentation, and management of bilateral luxatio erecta.
• Axillary vein thrombosis was identified as a significant complication, necessitating anticoagulation therapy.
• Successful closed reduction was achieved for the bilateral luxatio erecta.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of rare shoulder dislocations and their associated complications.
• It underscores the importance of vigilance for vascular complications like axillary vein thrombosis after luxatio erecta.
• The report contributes to the literature on the management of inferior shoulder dislocations.