Contralateral Fracture-Dislocation of the Shoulder Due to Electric Shock

Youssef Motiaa,Wafae Elotmani,Safa Baba,Khalid Azizi

doi:10.15342/ijms.v6ir.302

Abstract

Electrical injuries are relatively common and can produce various types of adverse effects on organs, but injuries to the musculoskeletal system are less frequent. Bone injuries can involve both long and flat bones and they encompass several types: osteonecrosis, dislocation, and fracture. Cases of shoulder dislocation with fracture have been reported in the literature; the mechanism is linked to the tetanizing effect from the alternating current flow through the shoulder without a fall or a violent trauma. Posterior dislocation is the most common shoulder injury. We report the case of an anterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulder contralateral to the entry point and we emphasize that any pain or functional impotence in the context of electric shock, even when it’s distant from the entry point, should trigger suspicion of bone injury.

Highlights

Cases of shoulder dislocation with fracture have been reported in the literature; the mechanism is linked to the tetanizing effect from the alternating current flow through the shoulder without a fall or a violent trauma
We report the case of an anterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulder contralateral to the entry point and we emphasize that any pain or functional impotence in the context of electric shock, even when it’s distant from the entry point, should trigger suspision of bone injury
Electric shock is defined as the clinical manifestations of the electric current flow through the body

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Electric shock is defined as the clinical manifestations of the electric current flow through the body. Bone injuries secondary to low voltage (220V) electric shocks can involve both long and flat bones and are of various types : osteonecrosis [3], dislocation or fracture. These injuries can be either ipsilateral, contralateral or at a. Fractures and dislocations after electrical injury are usually due to a fall or tetanic muscle contractions induced by low voltage alternative current. These fractures remain a rare condition [4]. We report the case of a 28 years-old patient who sustained a low-voltage electrical injury at home causing an anterior fracture-dislocation of the right shoulder. The patient was discharged from hospital after 3 days with a follow-up care under the orthopaedic team

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION