Evaluation of the Davos self-assisted technique for reduction of anterior glenohumeral dislocations: a comparative study with the traction/countertraction technique

BACKGROUND: Few studies have compared conventional and self-assisted shoulder reduction maneuvers. The goal of this study was to evaluate the results of self-assisted Davos vs. traction/countertraction (T/Ct) techniques in the treatment of acute anterior shoulder dislocations. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective study carried out at a tertiary hospital emergency department. Patients aged 18-69 years old, with radiographic confirmation of anterior glenohumeral dislocations, were consecutively allocated to treatment groups. Recorded data included pain at admission (visual analog scale [VAS] score at admission), analgesia before reduction, maximum pain during reduction (maximum VAS score), demographic characteristics, lesion mechanism, laterality, prior dislocation, and immediate complications. The primary outcomes were reduction success rate and pain. RESULTS: Eighty individuals were included (40/group). Regarding the success rate, no statistically significant differences were found between Davos or T/Ct (87.5% vs. 85%; P = .058). The maximum VAS score was significantly lower in Davos than that in T/Ct (4.18 ± 2.00 vs. 6.30 ± 2.13; P < .001). The effect of analgesia in the maximum VAS score was more evident among Davos patients, with significantly lower pain in the subgroup who were provided analgesia (3.63 ± 2.02 vs. 5.31 ± 2.01; P = .01). DISCUSSION: Davos was as effective as T/Ct for reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocations (highest reported success rate: 87.5%) and conditioned a less traumatic experience, with significantly lower pain during reduction (the maximum VAS score was more than 2 points lower in the Davos group; P < .001). Analgesia had a synergistic effect among patients submitted to the Davos technique, suggesting that T/Ct is inherently more painful. CONCLUSION: The Davos is a patient-controlled, atraumatic, and safe technique, allowing successful, gentle, and less painful glenohumeral reduction. These findings favor Davos as an easy-to-teach and effective first-line treatment for first-time and recurrent shoulder dislocations.