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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
[A bilateral posterior shoulder dislocation caused by humeral head osteonecrosis]
O Barbier1, E Van Gaver, S Rigal
1Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, hôpital d'instruction des armées Percy, avenue Henri-Barbusse, 92140 Clamart, France. Olive.barbier@wanadoo.fr
Abstract:
We report a case of simultaneous bilateral posterior shoulders dislocations in a 46-year-old male with antecedent of high-dose corticotherapy. The mechanism was non-traumatic after a contraction of the sub scapularis muscle in internal rotation. The interscapular pain was not initially diagnosed although a tomodensitometry was realized to eliminate a cardiovascular emergency. After reduction, the shoulders were unstable and the MRI showed an osteonecrosis of the humeral heads. The patient underwent surgery with an iliac spongy bone graft in the humeral nick. At 3 months, there was no recurrence and mobilities were good. Bilateral posterior shoulders dislocations are unusual and it is the first case of non-traumatic dislocation. Aetiology are often epilepsy, electrocution, and extreme traumatism. Diagnosis is often misrecognized and the treatment is not well codified.
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