A rare case of bilateral antero-internal shoulder dislocation: A case study and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Although anterior dislocations of the glenohumeral joint are the most frequent type of dislocation, bilateral forms are very rare [1] dominated by the posterior variant. We report a new case of bilateral anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joints and discuss the mechanism and treatment. Case report: This concerns a 55-year-old patient, who presented to the emergency room with closed trauma to both shoulders in undetermined circumstances. The patient reported a disturbance of consciousness followed by a post-critical coma and generalized tonic-clonic seizures according to witnesses. Clinical examination revealed total functional impotence of the upper limbs, with the following findings: filling of the delto-pectoral groove, bilateral external axe strike, oedema of both shoulders. X-rays of both shoulders revealed bilateral anterior glenohumeral dislocation, with a nondisplaced fracture of the left great tuberosity. Discussion: Bilateral shoulder dislocation is a rare occurrence typically associated with specific etiologies such as epileptic seizures, electrical or neuromuscular disorders, or traumatic events. This report presents a case of bilateral shoulder dislocation in a patient with no history of ligament hyperlaxity, categorized under Brown's classification as traumatic origin. Despite the rarity of this presentation, similar unusual mechanisms of shoulder dislocation have been reported in the literature, including cases where each shoulder dislocated due to different mechanisms.