ABSTRACT
Acute trauma to the shoulder girdle commonly results in shoulder pain and dysfunction. When fractures, dislocation, and separations occur as a consequence of blunt injury, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment produce good results in the majority of patients with little long-term disability. In most cases, falls and collisions result in direct trauma to the shoulder. In young patients, high-energy accidents (e.g., car accidents) increase the severity of the injury, while lower energy trauma (e.g., falls from standing height) may lead to substantial injury in the elderly.
