First time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation: a review of current management

A systematic review and meta-analysis of operative versus non-operative management for first time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in young adults

Background

The most appropriate management following primary traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in young adults is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated operative versus non-operative management. The primary outcome measure was re-dislocation rate, in contrast to the often reported 'recurrent instability', which includes subjective instability.

Methods

Our review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022322600) and reported as per PRISMA guidelines. Selection criteria included mean age of participants between 15 and 25 and minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Results

21 studies meet the inclusion criteria with 5142 patients included. The mean age of patients was 23, with 87% male. There was a median of 54 patients per study and a mean follow up of 46 months per study. The mean re-dislocation rate was 16.08% in the operative group and 24.84% in the non-operative group. In the subgroup meta-analysis, including only RCTs, comparing arthroscopic stabilisation vs non-operative there was an odds ratio of 0.09, strongly favouring intervention.

Discussion

This systematic review found the literature available supports surgical intervention in patients under the age of 25, in order to reduce re-dislocation. However, there is a lack of cost-effectiveness data to support these findings, and this should be an area of future research.

Risk factors for the presence of important fractures in ED patients with shoulder dislocation: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Prereduction shoulder X-rays are frequently done to rule out an important fracture that might preclude reduction of a shoulder dislocation in the ED. Our objective was to determine the risk factors for an important fracture in patients admitted to the ED with shoulder dislocation.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Toulouse University Hospital from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. All patients admitted to the ED with clinical presentation of shoulder dislocation were included. The primary end point was the presence of an important fracture (excluding Bankart and Hill-Sachs fractures). Logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for the presence of an important fracture.

RESULTS

Six hundred and two patients were included in the study and 81 (13%) had an important fracture. Three risk factors were associated with important fracture: age over 40 years (adjusted OR (aOR)=2.7; 95% CI 1.5 to 4.8), first incident (aOR=4.3; 95% CI 1.7 to 10.8) and the circumstances in which the trauma occurred (fall from a height or direct impact, fall of over 1 m, road accident or epilepsy) (aOR=5.5; 95% CI 2.6 to 30). One hundred sixty-six patients (28%) had no risk factors in our cohort. In the absence of these risk factors, the risk of an important fracture was found to be 0.6% (95% CI 0 to 3.3).

CONCLUSION

We describe 3 independent clinical risk factors associated with an important fracture in ED patients with shoulder dislocation: age >40 years, first incident and a traumatic circumstance. Prereduction radiography may be safely avoided when these factors are absent.

Position of Immobilization After First-Time Traumatic Anterior Glenohumeral Dislocation: A Literature Review

Anterior glenohumeral dislocation affects about 2% of the general population during the lifetime. The incidence of traumatic glenohumeral dislocation ranges from 8.2 to 26.69 per 100 000 population per year. The most common complication is recurrent dislocation occurring in 17–96% of the patients. The majority of patients are treated conservatively by closed reduction and immobilization in internal rotation for 2–3 weeks. However, no clear conservative treatment protocol exists. Immobilization in external rotation can be considered an alternative. A range of external rotation braces are commercially available.

The purpose of this work was to review the current literature on conservative management of glenohumeral dislocation and to compare the results of immobilization in internal and external rotation.

A comprehensive literature search and review was performed using the keywords “glenohumeral dislocation”, “shoulder dislocation”, “immobilization”, “external rotation”, and “recurrent dislocation” in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases from their inceptions to May 2016.

Three cadaveric studies, 6 imaging studies, 10 clinical studies, and 4 meta-analyses were identified. The total number of 734 patients were included in the clinical studies.

Literature analysis revealed better coaptation of the labrum on the glenoid rim in external rotation in cadaveric and imaging studies. However, this tendency was not confirmed by lower redislocation rates or better quality of life in clinical studies.

On the basis of the available literature, we cannot confirm the superiority of immobilization in external rotation after glenohumeral dislocation when compared to internal rotation. A yet-to-be-determined group of patients with specific labroligamentous injury pattern may benefit from immobilization in external rotation. Further studies are needed to identify these patients.

Management of primary anterior shoulder dislocations using immobilization

Reference/Citation : Paterson WH, Throckmorton TW, Koester M, Azar FM, Kuhn JE. Position and duration of immobilization after primary anterior shoulder dislocation: a systemic review and meta-analysis of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92(18):2924-2933.

CLINICAL QUESTION

Does an optimum duration and position of immobilization after primary anterior shoulder dislocation exist for reducing recurrence rates?

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched up to December 2009 without limitations. The search terms for all databases used were shoulder AND dislocation and shoulder AND immobilization.

STUDY SELECTION

Criteria used to include articles were (1) English language, (2) prospective level I or level II studies (according to Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery guidelines), (3) nonoperative management of initial anterior shoulder dislocation, (4) minimum follow-up of 1 year, and (5) rate of recurrent dislocation as a reported outcome.

DATA EXTRACTION

A standardized evaluation method was used to extract data to allow assessment of methods issues and statistical analysis to determine sources of bias. The primary outcome was the recurrence rate after nonoperative management of anterior shoulder dislocation. Additional data extracted and used in subanalyses included duration and position of immobilization and age at the time of initial dislocation. Data were analyzed to determine associations among groups using 2-tailed Fisher exact tests. For pooled categorical data, relative risk of recurrent dislocation, 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity using the I(2) statistic and χ(2) tests were calculated for individual studies. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to combine studies and estimate overall relative risk of recurrent dislocation and 95% confidence intervals. The statistical difference between duration of immobilization and position was determined using z tests for overall effect. Pooled results were presented as forest plots.

MAIN RESULTS

In the initial search of the databases, the authors identified 2083 articles. A total of 9 studies met all of the criteria and were included in this review. In most of the studies, age was a risk factor for recurrence. Patients less than 30 years of age were more likely to sustain a recurrent dislocation than patients more than 30 years of age. In 5 studies (n = 1215), researchers found no difference in recurrence of shoulder dislocation when immobilized in internal rotation (IR) for less than 1 week (41%, 40 of 97) compared with more than 3 weeks (37%, 34 of 93) in patients less than 30 years of age (P = .52). Authors of 3 studies (n = 289) compared the effect of immobilization in IR versus external rotation (ER), and whereas they found no statistical difference, a trend appeared toward reduced recurrence rates in ER but not IR (P = .07). The rate of recurrent dislocation was 40% (25 of 63) in patients treated with IR sling immobilization and 25% (22 of 88) in patients immobilized in ER.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the investigators found that younger age (<30 years) was a predictor of recurrent dislocations, immobilization for more than 1 week did not improve recurrence rates, and an apparent trend existed toward decreased recurrence rates with ER rather than IR. According to the review and meta-analysis by Paterson et al, the level of evidence for recommendations regarding optimal duration and position of immobilization to reduce the risk of recurrent dislocation was therapeutic level II. This level of evidence was appropriate because the review included only prospective studies of level I or II and a minimum follow-up of 1 year.

Management of recent first-time anterior shoulder dislocations

The management of a first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation starts with an analysis of the causative mechanism and a physical examination to establish the diagnosis. Based on the findings, the case can be classified as simple or accompanied with complications, most notably vascular or nerve injuries. Two radiographs perpendicular to each other should be obtained to confirm the diagnosis then repeated after the reduction manoeuvres. Additional imaging studies may be needed to assess concomitant bony lesions (impaction lesions or fractures). External reduction should always be attempted after premedication appropriate for the severity of the pain. General anaesthesia may be necessary. There is no consensus regarding the optimal reduction technique, although the need for gentle manoeuvres that do not cause pain is universally recognised. Immobilisation currently involves keeping the elbow by the side with the arm internally rotated for 3-6weeks depending on patient age. Vessel and nerve injuries are rare but can cause major functional impairments. Follow-up evaluations are in order to check the recovery of normal function, which may be more difficult to achieve in patients with concomitant lesions; and to detect recurrent shoulder instability and rotator cuff lesions. At the acute phase, surgery is indicated only in patients with complications or after failure of the reduction manoeuvres. Shoulder immobilisation with the arm externally rotated and surgical treatment of the first episode are controversial strategies that are discussed herein.

Interest of emergency arthroscopic stabilization in primary shoulder dislocation in young athletes

INTRODUCTION

The recurrence rate after primary shoulder dislocation in young subjects with high functional demand is close to 75%. The present study assessed the interest of emergency arthroscopic stabilization in this specific population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A non-randomized prospective study included 31 athletes under 30 years of age with primary anterior shoulder dislocation. Fifteen were offered emergency stabilization; after informed consent, 14 were enrolled in the "emergency stabilization" group. This was compared to a group matched for age, sport and lesion, managed 1 year previously by "non-operative" treatment (n=17), divided into 2 subgroups: "immobilization" and "secondary stabilization". Continuous prospective assessment of recurrence, return to sport and function (QuickDASH, QDsport, Duplay and Rowe scores) enabled comparison between the 3 groups.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 19 months for the "emergency stabilization" group and 25 months for the "non-operative" group. There were no failures in the "emergency stabilization" group, compared to a 77% rate in the "non-operative" group with onset at a mean 7.5 months and a mean 2.6 episodes of recurrence. Seven (54%) of the failures of non-operative treatment required secondary stabilization. Ninety-three percent of the "emergency stabilization" group, 44% of the "immobilization" group and 71% of the "secondary stabilization" group resumed sport at least at their pre-dislocation level. Mean Quick DASH was 1.46 in the "emergency stabilization" group, versus 15.28 the "immobilization" group (P<0.05) and 16.96 in the "secondary stabilization" group. Mean Duplay and Rowe scores were respectively 92.9 and 95 in the "emergency stabilization" group, versus 59.44 and 61.1 in the "immobilization" group (P<0.05) and 85 and 93.57 in the "secondary stabilization" group.

DISCUSSION

Emergency arthroscopic stabilization limits recurrence (Kirkley et al.), with better functional results than for secondary stabilization, lesion "freshness" providing a more favorable environment for labral and ligamentary healing. These encouraging results need confirmation over longer follow-up.

The arthroscopic latarjet procedure for anterior shoulder instability: 5-year minimum follow-up

BACKGROUND

The arthroscopic Latarjet procedure combines the benefits of arthroscopic surgery with the low rate of recurrent instability associated with the Latarjet procedure. Only short-term outcomes after arthroscopic Latarjet procedure have been reported.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the rate of recurrent instability and patient outcomes a minimum of 5 years after stabilization performed with the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Patients who underwent the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure before June 2008 completed a questionnaire to determine whether they had experienced a dislocation, subluxation, or further surgery. The patients also completed the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI).

RESULTS

A total of 62 of 87 patients (64/89 shoulders) were contacted for follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 76.4 months (range, 61.2-100.7 months). No patients had reported a dislocation since their surgery. One patient reported having subluxations since the surgery. Thus, 1 patient (1.59%) had recurrent instability after the procedure. The mean ± standard deviation aggregate WOSI score was 90.6% ± 9.4%. Mean WOSI domain scores were as follows: Physical Symptoms, 90.1% ± 8.7%; Sports/Recreation/Work, 90.3% ± 12.9%; Lifestyle, 93.7% ± 9.8%; and Emotions, 88.7% ± 17.3%.

CONCLUSION

The rate of recurrent instability after arthroscopic Latarjet procedure is low in this series of patients with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Patient outcomes as measured by the WOSI are good.