Ipsilateral Dislocation of Shoulder and Elbow Joints

The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint, closely followed by the elbow joint. However, simultaneous dislocations of both joints on the same limb seldom occur with only eight recorded in English literature. Fractures of the greater tuberosity or coracoid process can be associated with dislocations of either joints (shoulder and elbow), but a double dislocation without other associated injury is uncommon. This combination of injury can be easily missed if the patient is not properly examined at initial presentation  and hence result in a late or completely missed diagnosis of the shoulder dislocation. A case report of an ipsilateral dislocation after enduring minor trauma was reduced with intravenous sedation in the Accident and Emergency department and later made a very good, complete recovery of function.

A 40 year old female patient presented in the Accident and Emergency department after tripping over her cat and falling down a flight of stairs. She had previously consumed some alcohol. The patient complained of pain over her left elbow and shoulder joints which she consciously immobilised and refused to move. There was no neurovascular deficit.

Plain radiographs figures 1 and 2 of her left upper limb showed anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint and posterior dislocation of the elbow joints without any associated fracture.post-reduction plain radiographs.She was given entonox (Nitrous oxide and oxygen) and intravenous morphine in the Accident and Emergency department before both dislocations were reduced beginning with the elbow joint.

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