Arthroscopic Treatment of Luxatio Erecta Humeri Associated with Greater Tuberosity Fracture, Bankart Lesion, and Partial Rotator Cuff Tear: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 28-year-old Final Diagnosis: Luxatio erecta humeri Symptoms: Pain Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Arthoscopy • arthroscopic Bankart repair • arthroscopic fixation of greater tuberosity fracture • arthroscopic rotator cuff repair Specialty: Orthopedics and Traumatology OBJECTIVE: Rare co-existance of disease or pathology BACKGROUND: Luxatio erecta humeri (LEH) is a rare injury present in only 0.5% of shoulder dislocations. Much of the relevant literature is focused on the initial management and proper reduction techniques, although the prevalence of associated injuries can reach 80%. A case of LEH associated with greater tuberosity (GT) fracture and rotator cuff (RC) tear in a young laborer managed with closed reduction and arthroscopic repair of the labrum and rotator cuff is presented. CASE REPORT: A 28-year-old man presented to our hospital with severe pain in his right shoulder after a high-impact motor vehicle accident. Standard anteroposterior radiographs revealed an inferior dislocation (LEH) of the right shoulder and a fracture of the GT. The patient was initially managed with closed reduction under mild intravenous sedation, using a 2-step maneuver followed by arthroscopic evaluation of the joint the next day. During arthroscopic evaluation, an anterior–inferior Bankart lesion, impaction of the humeral head with a minimal displaced GT fracture, and a partial RC tear were identified and successfully treated arthroscopically. The patient had immobilization in a simple sling for 6 weeks and he followed a standard 3-month physiotherapy protocol for rotator cuff, finally regaining almost normal range of shoulder motion at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Although very good results of non-operative treatment of LEH have been reported in the literature, the coexistence of intra-articular lesions such as labral and rotator cuff tears makes arthroscopic repair an attractive alternative in individual cases.