The floating shoulder.
The floating shoulder is defined as ipsilateral fractures of the midshaft of the clavicle and the neck of the glenoid. This rare injury can be difficult to manage without a thorough understanding of the complex anatomy of the shoulder girdle. Surgical intervention needs to be considered for all of these injuries. While acceptable results can be expected with non-operative management of minimally-displaced fractures, displacement at one or both sites is best managed with surgical reduction and fixation.
Owens
B D
BD
Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York 10996, USA. b.owens@us.army.mil
Goss
T P
TP
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002968:Clavicle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome