ABSTRACT
Although traumatic dislocations of the shoulder, either anterior or posterior, are not rare, the diagnosis is frequently missed. It is not uncommon to find patients whose diagnosis has not been made for many months and whose treatment may therefore not have been appropriate. Patients with anterior dislocations of the shoulder tend to seek medical attention earlier, presenting with typical signs and symptoms. The clinical scenario with posterior dislocations, however, is altogether different. Patients’ presenting symptoms are often less clear-cut, and an inexperienced examiner may miss the diagnosis. It is surprising, however, that posterior dislocations are missed so frequently considering that Cooper (1), in 1839, carefully warned about this condition. He stated: ‘‘It’s an accident that cannot be mistaken, as there is a protuberance formed by the bone upon the scapula, which immediately strikes the eye.’’
