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Case Reports
. 2024 Jan 11;16(1):e52089.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.52089. eCollection 2024 Jan.

Use of Handheld Bedside Ultrasound to Confirm Successful Reduction of an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation

Robin Lahr  1 , Frank Wheeler  1 , James Espinosa  1 , Alan Lucerna  1 , Henry Schuitema  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Use of Handheld Bedside Ultrasound to Confirm Successful Reduction of an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation

Robin Lahr et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

We present the case of a 30-year-old male with anterior shoulder dislocation in which a bedside handheld ultrasound was used after sedation and a reduction procedure to confirm successful reduction. X-ray imaging as well as bedside ultrasound was performed before and after the reduction. The bedside handheld ultrasound demonstrated findings comparable to the X-ray results. X-ray imaging is used as a standard not only in the diagnosis of a dislocated shoulder but also to ensure successful reduction and to assess for any procedure-related fractures. An advantage of immediate bedside ultrasound is that immediate recognition by ultrasound of an unsuccessful reduction can allow the reduction process to continue while the patient is sedated, thus avoiding additional independent sedation procedures. The utilization of bedside ultrasonography in this manner may allow more expeditious and safer care for patients with shoulder dislocations.

Keywords: anterior shoulder dislocation; bedside ultrasound; handheld ultrasound; handheld ultrasound in shoulder dislocations; shoulder dislocation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. X-ray prior to reduction showing anterior shoulder dislocation
Glenoid fossa (blue arrow); humeral head (white arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2. 2: Bedside portable ultrasound demonstrating the humeral head (white arrow) anterior to the scapular spine (blue arrow), indicating anterior shoulder dislocation
Figure 3
Figure 3. Bedside portable ultrasound demonstrating the humeral head (white arrow) in normal alignment with the scapular spine (blue arrow), indicating the successful reduction of the anterior dislocation
Figure 4
Figure 4. X-ray demonstrating successful reduction of the anterior dislocation
Normal relationship now seen between the humeral head (blue arrow) and the glenoid fossa (white arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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