A Case of Modified McLaughlin Procedure in Neglected Posterior Shoulder Fracture Dislocation

A Hill-Sachs lesion, a posterolateral bony defect of the proximal humerus, occurs when the humerus head collides with the anterior region of the glenoid during an anterior shoulder dislocation. A posteriorly dislocated shoulder may cause a reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, which is a deficiency on the anteromedial part of the humeral head due to impaction. Avascular necrosis could result from this lesion if detection and repair are not carried out. The subscapularis tendon is separated from the smaller tuberosity using an open technique in the original McLaughlin procedure, which was initially described in 1952. In neglected cases of patients undergoing surgery after three weeks, there is no commonly accepted standard of care. Glenohumeral joint stabilization and early and full functional recovery are the two objectives of the procedure. This case report describes a modified McLaughlin surgery where the subscapularis tendon and lesser tuberosity are transferred to the reverse Hill-Sachs defect for stability. The clinical significance of our case report is that it accentuates the role of early detection and appropriate management of reverse Hill-Sachs lesion, which is often overlooked and missed in a case of posterior shoulder dislocation. The use of the modified McLaughlin procedure not only covers the defect with a bone chunk and the subscapularis tendon transfer over the head of the humerus but the stable fixation with the anchor and cannulated cancellous screw helps in early rehabilitation of the shoulder joint.