Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Posterior shoulder dislocation in a 10-year-old child: Case report
Nawaf Sulaiman Alogayyel1, Mohamed Dhafer Aldawodi1, Bandar Ahmed2
1King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science, P.O. Box: 50577, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Posterior shoulder dislocation is rare in children, especially without fractures. This case highlights the importance of thorough examination and imaging for accurate diagnosis of this easily missed injury.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Radiology
Background:
- Shoulder dislocation is a common joint injury, with posterior dislocations accounting for less than 4% of cases.
- Posterior shoulder dislocations are frequently misdiagnosed, occurring in 60-79% of initial presentations.
- In children, posterior dislocations often stem from congenital anomalies or ligamentous laxity, with traumatic cases without fracture being exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 10-year-old child presented with a traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation.
- The dislocation occurred without any associated fracture of the proximal humeral epiphysis.
- The patient did not exhibit obvious deformity, making clinical detection challenging.
Findings:
- This case represents a rare instance of traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation in a child without fracture.
- The diagnosis required careful physical examination and specific radiographic views.
- The absence of significant deformity underscores the subtlety of this injury in pediatric patients.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis of posterior shoulder dislocation in children necessitates a high index of suspicion.
- Comprehensive physical assessment and appropriate imaging are crucial for identifying these rare injuries.
- Increased awareness can improve diagnostic accuracy and timely management of pediatric posterior shoulder dislocations.
Introduction:
Shoulder dislocation is the most common type of all joints dislocations. It occurs when there is separation in the glenohumeral joint. Posterior dislocation accounts for less than 4% of all shoulder dislocations. In fact, it is misdiagnosed in 60-79% of the patients in the initial presentation. In children a posterior shoulder dislocation is usually caused by a congenital anomaly or in those who have ligamentous laxity. Traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation without fracture of the proximal humeral epiphysis in children is very rare, and only few cases have been reported.
Case Presentation:
This report presents a rare case of a 10-year-old child with a traumatic posterior shoulder dislocation without fracture.
Discussion:
this patient present with a rare posterior dislocation, which is direct and without fracture. It does not present with a marked deformity and it is hard to detect without a complete physical examination and radiographic series.
Conclusion:
Posterior shoulder dislocations are rare, and even more rare in children without fractures. It is easily missed and needs careful history taking, physical exam and correct x-ray view to reach the diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Muscles of the Shoulder
Anterior Thoracic Muscles
The anterior thoracic muscles include the serratus anterior, subclavius, and...
01:24Data Reporting and Recording
01:25Types of Reports I: Hands-off Report
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
01:21Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:26Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders