Neural injury following traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation

Travlos, John

Neural injury following traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation

Master Thesis

1989

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

In this study I reviewed 28 patients with brachial plexus lesions caused by shoulder dislocation. As far as can be established, this is the largest series reviewed in the literature to date. Contrary to most other reports, the neurological lesions involved the supraclavicular as well as the infraclavicular brachial plexus. The only part of the supraclavicular brachial plexus affected was the suprascapular nerve, and this always recovered spontaneously. Isolated axillary nerve lesions were found to have the poorest prognosis for spontaneous nerve recovery. All lesions that showed no recovery after 3 - 5 months were explored and had either a graft or a neurolysis. This study discusses the combinations of nerve lesions, their recovery and the indications for surgical intervention. I also suggest a classification perhaps more clinically relevant than the anatomical classification of Leffert and Seddon (1965).