Fracture-dislocation of the shoulder is a relatively common injury, but, posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulder is a very rave one. We will present two cases treated with open reduction and fixation of the joint and the fracture.
Case 1; A 30-year-old male injured his right s houlder and was treated with electroshock therapy by psychiarists. This case was a 2-part fracture with posterior dislocation in which the lesser tuberosity of the humerus was displaced. An attempt at closed manipulation of the posterior dislocation under full relaxant general anaesthesia was successful, and the lesser tuberosity of the humerus was reduced and fixed with A-O screws.
Case 2; A 22-year-old male injured his right shoulder in a traffic accident, and was examined in our hospital four months after injury. This case was a 2-part fracture with posterior dislocation in which both tuberosities of the humerun were displaced. After open reduction of the posterior dislocation, both tuberosities were reduced and fixed with A-Oscrews. In this case, both tuberosities were displaced in a body. We couldn't classify this fracture according to Neer's classification. Open reduction of these two cases were undertaken using the anterior approach. Their results were satisfactory.
The most important point concerning posterior disl o cations is that the diagnosis is so often overlooked because of inadequate roentgenographic examination of the shoulder. The definite and unmistakable diagnosis of posterior dislocation of the shou l d er is made by obtaining both anteroposterior and axillary roentgenograms habitually.
We examined 35 cases of posterior dislocation of the shoulder reported in Japan.
