An emergency room physician examines a patient who has fallen from a motorcycle and injured his shoulder. The clinician notices a loss of the normal contour of the shoulder and a abnormal-appearing depression below the acromion. Which of the following injuries did the patient most likely sustain?
The abnormal depression described is a characteristic tip-off for a dislocated shoulder joint. This is impoant to remember, as it may help you make a rapid diagnosis.Avulsion of the coronoid process of the ulna (at the elbow) can occur following a severe contracture of brachialis.Fracture of the midshaft of the humerus may produce a "bend" in the upper arm.Fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus can lacerate the axillary branch of the posterior cord ( also called axillary), causing paralysis of the deltoid. Ref: McMahon P.J., Kaplan L.D. (2006). Chapter 4. Spos Medicine. In H.B. Skinner (Ed), CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment in Ohopedics, 4e
Avulsion of the coronoid process
Dislocated shoulder joint
Fracture of the midshaft of the humerus
Fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus