[Immobilization in external rotation after primary shoulder dislocation]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Radiology

Context:

• Acute primary glenohumeral joint dislocation often leads to high recurrence rates (up to 90%) in young, active patients with standard sling immobilization.
• The Bankart lesion, a common injury in anterior shoulder dislocations, requires effective treatment to prevent instability.

Purpose:

• To evaluate a novel immobilization technique for primary anterior shoulder dislocation using external rotation.
• To assess the repositioning of the displaced labrum and its effect on Bankart lesion healing via MRI.

Summary:

• Ten patients with primary anterior shoulder dislocation and Bankart lesions underwent immobilization in 10-20 degrees of external rotation for three weeks.
• MRI scans demonstrated stable fixation of Bankart lesions in an anatomic position after immobilization.
• At 12-month follow-up, patients showed high functional scores (Constant Score: 96.1, Rowe Score: 91.5), with one instance of redislocation.

Impact:

• External rotation immobilization offers a potentially superior method for treating anterior shoulder dislocations compared to traditional methods.
• This technique may significantly reduce recurrence rates and improve long-term outcomes for patients with shoulder instability.
• Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy and recurrence rates.