An Easy New Method for Reducing Anterior Shoulder Dislocations: The Lateral Position Technique

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Traumatology

Background:

• Anterior shoulder dislocation is common but challenging to reduce.
• Existing reduction techniques often require assistance and sedation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the lateral position maneuver (LPM) method for acute anterior shoulder dislocation.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of the LPM (Makihara method) performed by a single physician without sedation.

Main Methods:

• The LPM method was applied to 13 patients with acute anterior shoulder dislocations within 24 hours of injury.
• Inclusion criteria allowed for associated greater tuberosity fractures or Bankart lesions.
• Exclusion criteria included multiple traumas, severe fractures, and pre-existing conditions.

Main Results:

• The LPM method successfully achieved closed reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocations.
• The technique was performed by a single physician without the need for sedation.
• No complications were reported in the 13 patients treated with the LPM method.

Conclusions:

• The lateral position maneuver (Makihara method) is a useful and complication-free technique for anterior shoulder dislocation reduction.
• Further studies with larger patient cohorts are recommended to confirm the efficacy of the LPM method.