[Effects of two types of treatment for shoulder subluxation in hemiplegics: a pilot study]

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this pilot study is to compare the effects of a new sling, a special type of strapping and their association to treat shoulder subluxation.

Materials and methods: The effectiveness of a modified version of a sling, a special type of strapping and their association to treat shoulder subluxation has been compared in three hemiplegic patients. Shoulder subluxation has been diagnosed by palpation, then assessed by radiographic measurements in sitting position with the plane of the scapula method (at 30 degrees to the coronal plane). The distance between the inferior acromial surface and the horizontal line crossing through the central point of the humeral head (in millimeters) has been taken as measurement of subluxation.

Results: All the patients showed a reduction of the acromial-humeral distance when the sling was applied with strapping. When sling or strapping alone was applied, a slight difference was measured in each patient.

Conclusions: The association of sling and strapping seems to be an effective strategy to treat shoulder subluxation in hemiplegic patients in sub-acute stage. The tools described in the paper give a better cost/benefit ratio in comparison with others described in literature and widely used in clinical practice. Hawever, further investigations are necessary to confirm these results.