Coracoid Osteotomy, Greater Tuberosity Take Down and Latarjet Procedure for Missed Bilateral Locked Anterior Shoulder Fracture-Dislocations in a Young Man

INTRODUCTION: It is rare to see chronic bilateral anterior fracture-dislocations as a result of seizure, and we present a case of this type and review of the literature. Despite the signs and symptoms of shoulder dislocation being well documented, and X-ray imaging being good at identifying such pathology, there are a few cases in the literature of missed or chronic shoulder dislocation (a shoulder that has been dislocated for more than 3 weeks) but these are extremely rare. Our case represents the first example of chronic bilateral locked anterior fracture-dislocations requiring open reduction and coracoid osteotomy with GT takedown to gain adequate exposure and allow soft tissue release to facilitate joint reduction. No other case has used anchors to achieve GT fixation, and our patient is the youngest published case with such pathology. CASE REPORT: A 16-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with reduced range of movements in both shoulders. Six weeks prior he had suffered an epileptic seizure. X-rays confirmed bilateral anterior shoulder dislocations with displaced greater tuberosity (GT) fractures. Staged open reduction was performed in the right and then left shoulder. Coracoid osteotomy with takedown of the malunited GT fracture was needed to assist with gradual soft tissue contracture release and a successful relocation. Latarjet procedure was then performed and the GTs were fixed using rotator cuff anchors. At 6 months post-operation, on the right side, he achieved forward flexion to 150o and abduction to 120o. On the left side, forward flexion was 110o and abduction was 90o. X rays showed satisfactory maintenance of the reduction without signs of avascular necrosis of the humeral head. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of this injury in this way is effective and achieves good results in the first 6 months of follow up. A high index of suspicion should be employed for this injury in post-ictal patients with shoulder pain. Early mobilization and effective physiotherapy is essential post-operatively to achieve good short-term range of motion.