title: The floating shoulder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Keller Army Hospital, West Point, New York 10996, USA. b.owens@us.army.mil
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Goss
mesh_terms: 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