CHRONIC POSTERIOR SHOULDER DISLOCATION: A CASE SERIES

Shoulder dislocation of the posterior variety is a rare condition, representing less than 2% of all dislocation types of the Shoulder Joint. During the acute presentation of posterior shoulder dislocation, the rate of misdiagnosis is high 50%-80% because acute posterior shoulder dislocation is not diagnosed during the initial presentation. The causes of this high rate of misdiagnosis are a lack of clarity regarding the signs of this type of dislocation and inadequate radiological assessment. A delayed diagnosis can result in painful and stiff shoulders, leading to chronic shoulder dislocation. The resulting decrease in joint motion and loss of many activities, instability, recurrent shoulder dislocation, and delay in diagnosis may result in Osteoarthritis or AVN of the humeral head. The chronicity of posterior shoulder dislocation may necessitate a complex surgical procedure for reduction with an unpredictable rate of success. The purpose of this case series was to clarify the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of chronic posterior shoulder dislocation by presenting three cases of posterior shoulder dislocation from the Orthopaedic Department at Fallujah Teaching Hospital in Iraq.