External rotation immobilization for primary shoulder dislocation: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The traditional treatment for primary anterior shoulder dislocations has been immobilization in a sling with the arm in a position of adduction and internal rotation. However, recent basic science and clinical data have suggested recurrent instability may be reduced with immobilization in external rotation after primary shoulder dislocation.

Questions/purposes

We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the (1) frequency of recurrent instability and (2) disease-specific quality-of-life scores after treatment of first-time shoulder dislocation using either immobilization in external rotation or immobilization in internal rotation in a group of young patients.

Methods

Sixty patients younger than 35 years of age with primary, traumatic, anterior shou

SUBMITTER: Whelan DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4079853 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature