A simple, safe and painless method for acute anterior glenohumeral joint dislocations: “the forward elevation maneuver”

Abstract

The glenohumeral joint is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body. Numerous techniques for reducing an acute anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint have been described. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of Janecki's forward elevation maneuver for reducing a traumatic acute anterior glenohumeral joint dislocation. Between May 2010 and November 2011, the forward elevation maneuver was applied to 27 patients who presented to the emergency department of Yuzuncu Yil University Medical School with a traumatic anterior glenohumeral joint dislocation. For each patient, the forward elevation maneuver was used to reduce the anterior glenohumeral joint dislocation. The type of dislocation, the effectiveness of the procedure in achieving reduction, the need for premedication, the ease of performing the reduction and complications (if present) were noted. Janecki's forward elevation maneuver was successful for 25 patients (92.6 %) on the first attempt. Premedication was not used for 22 patients, and reduction was successful for 20 of them. The method was not successful in two cases. Twenty-three of the patients (85.2 %) experienced no pain or mild pain. Complications referred to the reduction technique were not found in any patient. This paper concludes that Janecki's forward elevation maneuver is a simple, safe, painless, and effective reduction method. Consequently, the forward elevation maneuver seems to be a good method for reducing anterior glenohumeral joint dislocation.