FreeMD® Shoulder Dislocation Types

Shoulder Dislocation

Types

Shoulder Dislocation Types

There are two main types of shoulder dislocation:

Anterior shoulder dislocation:

The humerus lies in front of the scapula.
This is the most common type of shoulder dislocation.

Posterior shoulder dislocation:

The humerus lies behind the scapula.
This dislocation is uncommon.

Continue to Shoulder Dislocation Anatomy

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Shoulder injury

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Last Updated: Aug 1, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Shoulder Dislocation References:

Ameh V, Crane S. Nerve injury following shoulder dislocation: the emergency physician's perspective. Eur J Emerg Med. 2006 Aug;13(4):233-5.
Emond M, Le Sage N, Lavoie A, Rochette L. Clinical factors predicting fractures associated with an anterior shoulder dislocation. Acad Emerg Med. 2004 Aug;11(8):853-8.
Good CR, MacGillivray JD. Traumatic shoulder dislocation in the adolescent athlete: advances in surgical treatment. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2005 Feb;17(1):25-9.
Handoll HH, Almaiyah MA, Rangan A. Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for acute anterior shoulder dislocation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD004325.
Safran MR. Nerve injury about the shoulder in athletes, part 1: suprascapular nerve and axillary nerve. Am J Sports Med. 2004 Apr-May;32(3):803-19.