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 fracturedislocation 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 fracturedislocations, prior to the ultimate proper treatment with cemented humeral shoulder hemiarthroplasties, followed by appropriate rehabilitation programme, for successful patient outcomes.