title: A new method of immobilization after traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder: a preliminary study.
abstract: This preliminary prospective study was conducted to determine whether immobilization with the arm in external rotation would decrease the rate of recurrence after initial traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Forty patients with initial shoulder dislocations were assigned to (1) conventional immobilization in internal rotation (IR group, n = 20) or (2) a new method of immobilization in external rotation (ER group, n = 20). The recurrence rate was 30% in the IR group and 0% in the ER group at a mean 15.5 months. The difference in recurrence rate was even greater among those who were aged less than 30 years (45% in the IR group and 0% in the ER group). Immobilization with the arm in external rotation is effective in reducing the rate of recurrence after initial dislocation of the shoulder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo, Akita, Japan. itoi@med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hatakeyama
authors.forename: Tadato
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Moto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D013165:Splints