Bilateral Posterior Fracture-Dislocation of the Shoulder after Electrical Shock Treated with Bilateral Hemiarthroplasty: A Case Report

Abstract

This is a case report of a bilateral posterior fracture- dislocation of the shoulder after electrical shock and presents the first such patient treated with bilateral shoulder hemiarthroplasty. At first presentation, the upper limbs of the patient were in a position of internal rotation, and passive and active external rotations were painful. Radiographs and computed tomography of both shoulders showed bilateral posterior fracture-dislocation. Defects over 50% of the head articular surfaces led to unstable and unsuccessful initial closed and open reductions. The patient was then treated with cemented hemiarthroplasties with very good functional results two years post-operatively. This case presentation underlines the critical value of systematic clinical and radiographic evaluation of severe bilateral shoulder fracture- dislocations, prior to the ultimate proper treatment with cemented humeral shoulder hemiarthroplasties, followed by appropriate rehabilitation programme, for successful patient outcomes.

Keywords

• bilateral shoulder posterior fracture-dislocation
• electrical shock
• shoulder hemiarthroplasty