title: Recurrent anterior transient subluxation of the shoulder. The "dead arm" syndrome.
abstract: Attention is directed to a subtle, unresponsive cause of shoulder disability in the young adult who has sustained a forceful overextension of the shoulder. A careful office evaluation will identify this lesion. A number of factors differentiate it from the numerous other causes of shoulder disability. 1. Usually a young athletic adult. 2. A characteristic history of forceful overextension of the shoulder. 3. Poor response to routine types of treatment. 4. Negative radiographic study. 5. Usually a frustrated and discouraged patient because no one has diagnosed or helped his "dead arm." 6. Consistent physical findings of a positive apprehension test.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*