title: Anterior shoulder dislocation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior dislocation of the shoulder is commonly seen in accident and emergency (A&E) and trauma clinics. In this article, we review the existing literature on the injury and the recent trends in management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have discussed this condition with our colleagues and performed a Medline search ('anterior shoulder dislocation') of the relevant papers. We also describe key historical publications and recent developments regarding immobilisation of the joint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Management decisions regarding this condition continue to vary between units, especially for recurrent and posterior dislocation. This paper lays some emphasis on the choice of analgesic agent when attempting shoulder reduction in the A&E setting. A summary of the data from our own department has provided a graphical representation of the classical age and sex distribution for this condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shoulder dislocation is a common injury. Delays in diagnosis remain the single biggest obstacle to optimum results in this group of patients. A significant proportion will require eventual surgery and up to a third of these patients will go on to develop long-term shoulder arthritis. Even patients who have experienced a single episode of dislocation may go on to develop long-term sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK. stevenfrcs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cutts
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prempeh
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drew
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000293:injuries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives