title: The rate of recurrence of traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder. A study of 154 cases and a review of the literature.
abstract: We have reviewed the history of 154 primary, traumatic dislocations of the shoulder in order to determine the risk of recurrence. We found a recurrence rate of 68% in patients under the age of 20, after a follow-up period of 1-9 years (average 4.5 years). There was a highly significant difference (p < 0.0001) in the recurrence rate of patients under, and above, 30 years of age. Twenty per cent of the patients had a concurrent minor fracture at the shoulder with 2 out of 39 of the recurrent cases (5%) and 29 of the 115 non-recurrent cases (25%); this is also a significant difference (p < 0.01). Neither the need for general anaesthesia at primary injury nor the occupation of the patient was a relevant factor in the final outcome of the dislocation. Four nerve injuries were encountered (3%), with no severe sequelae at follow-up. The young patient with no concurrent fracture at the time of the primary shoulder dislocation has a high risk of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermeiren
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Handelberg
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Casteleyn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Opdecam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000150:complications