Fixation with Desault bandage for about 3 weeks has generally been used as the method of fixation after reposition of traumatic dislocation of shoulder joints. The inability to use the upper limbs on the affected side causes inconvenience in daily life and many patients, themselves, remove the fixation when this method is employed. Taking this into consideration, we devised a fixation method using a modified clavicular harness with a pad and used it clinically.
The subjects are 404 cases of traumatic anterior dislocation of shoulder joints, which were treated at our hospital, the Ishiuchi-Maruyama Skiing Ground Clinic and the Nozawa Hot Spring Skiing Ground Clinic from December,1982 to April,1987. Of these,194 cases had initial dislocations. These cases were subjected to direct examination and investigation on the prognosis by questionaire.
Of these 194 cases of inital dislocation,104 cases responded to the questionaire. There were 58 cases of Desault bandage,39 cases of modified clavicular harness and 7 other cases. The proportion of re-dislocation was 15.5%, (9 out of 58 cases) in the Desault bandage group and 5.1%, (2 out of 39 cases) in the group of modified clavicular harness. The latter proved a superior method in the prevention of re-dislocation.
