Epidemiology of prehospital care of shoulder dislocation in the mountain

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of the rescued patients with shoulder dislocation, as well as the therapeutic approach.

Method: A retrospective descriptive study of the patients treated during the period  July 2010-December 2016, who presented with a shoulder dislocation.

Results: A total of 57 patients were analysed. Shoulder dislocations account for 42.5% of upper extremity injuries and 2.7% of total rescues. The mean age being 40.7±11.9 years; 96.4% were male. Hiking, canyoning and mountain skiing are the activities in which most of the dislocations occur. 98.2% of the dislocations were anterior glenohumeral type. The reduction was successful in 80.9%, with the Kocher manoeuvre being the most used. The mean time until the first reduction attempt was successful was 87 minutes and 142 minutes when the manoeuvre failed.

Conclusions: An increase in the number of shoulder dislocation was observed, most of them reduced at the accident site, there is no evidence of a single most successful manoeuvre over another. The quicker the reduction is attempted the more success is achieved. A reduction without performing an X-ray is safe and efficient.