Journal de traumatisme et de traitement

Ipsilateral Dislocation of Shoulder and Elbow Joints

Abstract

Kenneth S David-West

Ipsilateral dislocations of the shoulder and elbow joints are very rare. In English literature, only eight cases have been reported. It is imperative to remember the shoulder dislocation as it is easily missed at the initial presentation of a combined elbow and shoulder dislocation. A 40 year old female patient presented with sustained ipsilateral dislocations of her left shoulder and elbow joint after falling over her cat. The elbow was reduced first, followed by the shoulder. Maintaining a high index of suspicion is fundamental in ensuring that a second dislocation is not missed when a patient presents with either a shoulder or elbow dislocation. She made a very good recovery of the function of her left upper limb within three months.