Question

Jill age 49 has recently begun a rigorous weight lifting program. She presents to the office today with a shoulder dislocation. Which of the following clinical manifestations make you suspect an anterior shoulder dislocation over a posterior dislocation?

A) Inability to shrug the shoulders
B) Absence of pain
C) Inability to rotate the shoulder externally
D) Shortening of the arm

Answer 1

The clinical manifestations that make us suspect an anterior shoulder dislocation over a posterior dislocation are inability to rotate the shoulder externally, inability to shrug the shoulders, and shortening of the arm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical manifestations that make us suspect an anterior shoulder dislocation over a posterior dislocation are:

1. Inability to rotate the shoulder externally: In an anterior dislocation, the arm is usually held in a position known as the 'lightbulb sign' where the arm is internally rotated and abducted, and the patient is unable to rotate the shoulder externally.
2. Inability to shrug the shoulders: With an anterior dislocation, the deltoid muscle loses its normal function, resulting in the inability to shrug the shoulders.
3. Shortening of the arm: In some cases of anterior dislocation, the humeral head can become locked in a subcoracoid or subglenoid location, causing the arm to appear shortened compared to the unaffected side.

Therefore, based on these clinical manifestations, we can suspect an anterior shoulder dislocation rather than a posterior dislocation.