Bilateral Asymmetrical Fracture Dislocation of Shoulder with Rare Combination of Injuries after Epileptic Seizure: A Case Report

Abstract

The incidence of bilateral gleno-humeral joint dislocation is rare, is almost always posterior and is usually caused by sports injuries, epileptic seizures, electrical shock, or electroconvulsive therapy. Bilateral fracture-dislocation is even rarer, with a few cases reported in the literature. We report an unusual case with dislocation of the both glenohumeral joints in opposite direction after a seizure episode, with fracture of greater tuberosity on one side and of the lesser tuberosity on the contralateral side. Although there have been a few reports of bilateral asymmetric fracture dislocations of the shoulder in the past, an injury pattern resembling our case has, to the best of our knowledge, not been described in the literature so far. This report includes a detailed discussion regarding the mechanism of injury in a case of asymmetrical dislocation following a seizure episode. At final follow-up, the patient had healed fractures, painless near normal range of motion with no redislocations.

Keywords: bilateral; dislocation; fractures; seizures; shoulder.

Fig. 1

(a) Initial radiograph, (b) Post reduction radiograph, (c) Pre-op CT scan coronal section and (d) Post-op radiograph of left shoulder.

Fig. 2

(a) Pre-op radiograph, (b) Pre-op scan axial section and (c) Post-op radiograph of right shoulder.