title: Posterior dislocation of the shoulder: recommendations for a classification.
abstract: Posterior dislocation of the should is rare, constituting only 2.1% of all shoulder dislocations. The mechanisms of injury may be due to direct or indirect forces, and constitutional predisposing factors also play a role. Anatomically, 97.5% of dislocations are subacromial. Three hundred articles published in the international literature concerning posterior shoulder dislocation and subluxation were reviewed and a classification determined by the underlying aetiology was developed. On this basis dislocations and subluxations may be traumatic or atraumatic, primary and recurrent; recurrent cases of voluntary dislocation are considered separately. In addition, a follow-up assessment score weighted towards stability of the shoulder after treatment is detailed.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forst
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forst
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome