Long-term effect of immobilization in external rotation after first-time shoulder dislocation: an average 18-year follow-up

At long-term follow-up many first-time male traumatic shoulder dislocators remain symptomatic

OBJECTIVES

To assess the status at 13 to 17 years follow-up of a cohort of young male traumatic shoulder dislocators.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A prospective study of first-time young male traumatic shoulder dislocators, began in 2004. Subjects were evaluated by the apprehension test after completing rehabilitation 6 to 9 weeks post dislocation. Between March 2021 and July 2022, a telephone questionnaire was administered to ascertain their current shoulder status. Subjects were questioned about avoidance of activities of daily living and sport, participation in sports, current instability, and self-assessed shoulder function by the SANE score.

RESULTS

50/53 (94.3%) of the study subjects, mean age 20.4 years, completed a mean follow-up of 181.8 ± 12 months. The non-redislocation survival was 13% for those with a positive apprehension test and 49% for those with a negative test (p = 0.007). SANE scores were 64.3 ± 23.7 for those with a positive apprehension test and 83.7 ± 19.7 for those with a negative test (p = 0.001). In the year before the follow-up, 33.3% of those treated conservatively and 42.9% treated surgically experienced subluxation (p = 0.5). Fifty-seven percent of those who were treated conservatively and 56% of those who underwent surgery avoided some ADL or sports because of their shoulder.

CONCLUSIONS

For young male first time traumatic shoulder dislocators a positive apprehension test after rehabilitation is associated with a high risk for reoccurrence and poorer long-term results. Most subjects were still dealing with shoulder symptoms at long-term follow-up.