Rare anterior shoulder dislocation in a toddler

Abstract

Traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in toddlers and pediatric patients is a very rare injury pattern. The treatment and the recurrence rate are mostly extrapolated from adult and adolescent data. A 2-year-old toddler is presented with a first-time traumatic shoulder dislocation caused by a pull on the abducted arm. The treatment included a gentle closed reduction performing the Milch maneuver and a short-sling immobilization. The 2.5-year-follow-up demonstrated a stable shoulder with free range of motion while still having a Hill-Sachs-lesion. Shoulder dislocation in toddlers maybe addressed less aggressively after closed reduction than in adults due to an unknown recurrence rate.