The management of acute acromioclavicular dislocation. A randomised prospective controlled trial. Prospective randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of immediate arthroscopic stabilization versus immobilization and rehabilitation in first traumatic anterior dislocations of the shoulder. Comparison of an arthroscopic and an open procedure for posttraumatic instability of the shoulder: a prospective, randomized multicenter study. Immediate mobilization compared with conventional immobilization for the impacted nonoperatively treated proximal humeral fracture. A randomized controlled trial. Arthroscopic versus open shoulder stabilization for recurrent anterior instability: a prospective randomized clinical trial. Anesthetic methods for reduction of acute shoulder dislocations: a prospective randomized study comparing intraarticular lidocaine with intravenous analgesia and sedation. Arthroscopic lavage reduced the recurrence rate following primary anterior shoulder dislocation. A randomised multicentre study with 1-year follow-up. A new method of immobilization after traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder: a preliminary study. A prospective, randomized evaluation of arthroscopic stabilization versus nonoperative treatment in patients with acute, traumatic, first-time shoulder dislocations.
In a prospective study, 60 patients with acute acromioclavicular dislocation were randomly allocated to treatment with a broad arm sling or to reduction and fixation with a coracoclavicular screw. Of these 54 were followed for four years. Conservatively-treated patients regained movement significantly more quickly and fully, returned to work and sport earlier and had fewer unsatisfactory results than those having early operation. For severe dislocations, with acromioclavicular displacement of 2 cm or more, early surgery produced better results. Conservative management is best for most acute dislocations, but younger patients with severe displacement may benefit from early reduction and stabilisation. Our purpose was to compare the effectiveness of traditional treatment with immediate arthroscopic stabilization in young patients who have sustained a first traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Forty skeletally mature patients younger than 30 years of age were randomly allocated to immobilization for 3 weeks followed by rehabilitation (group T) or arthroscopic stabilization (within 4 weeks of injury) followed by an identical immobilization and rehabilitation protocol (group S). A blinded research assistant performed all follow-up evaluations. The dominant arm was involved in 35% of subjects. The injury occurred in a sporting event in 70% of subjects. At 24 months, there was a statistically significant difference in the rate of redislocation (T = 47%, S = 15.9%, P = .03). An intention-to-treat analysis comparing disease-specific quality of life using the validated Western Ontario Shoulder Instability (WOSI) index showed statistically significantly better results in the surgically treated group at the 33 months (T = 633.93 v S = 287.1, P = .03) and no significant difference in range of motion. At an average 32 months follow-up, a significant reduction in redislocation and improvement in disease-specific quality of life is afforded by early arthroscopic stabilization in patients less than 30 year of age with a first, traumatic, anterior dislocation of the shoulder. From 1993 through 1996, a multicenter study was conducted on the surgical treatment of patients with posttraumatic recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations. Fifty-six patients (40 men, 16 women; mean age 26 years [range 18-51 years]), were evaluated with shoulder arthroscopy. If a Bankart lesion was present, the patients were randomly allocated to either an arthroscopic reconstruction with the use of biodegradable tacks or an open reconstruction with suture anchors. The postoperative rehabilitation protocol for the two groups was identical. In all patients, the range of shoulder motion, stability, and the Constant and Rowe scores were evaluated at 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Thirty patients were surgically treated with the arthroscopic technique and 26 patients with the open technique. In the arthroscopic group, there were recurrences in 7 (23%) of 30 patients at a mean of 13 months (range 5 to 21 months) after surgery. All patients with stable shoulders had a negative apprehension test result. In the open group, there were recurrences in 3 (12%) of 26 patients at a mean of 10 months (range 2 to 23 months) after surgery (P = not significant). In the arthroscopic group, 2 patients had new traumatic redislocations, whereas 1 patient redislocated during an epileptic seizure. In the open group, 1 traumatic redislocation occurred. The 2-year results in this study demonstrate a large number of redislocations after reconstruction, even in the open surgery group. Patient noncompliance with the rehabilitation protocol and predisposing disease may partially explain these results. A tendency was seen toward more redislocations in the arthroscopic group, which emphasizes the importance of correct patient selection and careful surgical technique in the difficult surgical procedure. There have been few randomized controlled trials evaluating nonoperative treatment of proximal humeral fractures. To investigate shortening the period of dependence, we assessed the feasibility and efficacy of early mobilization of the shoulder (within three days after the fracture) in comparison with those of conventional three-week immobilization followed by physiotherapy.
                We randomly assigned seventy-four patients with an impacted proximal humeral fracture to receive early passive mobilization or conventional treatment. The primary outcome was the overall shoulder functional status (as measured with the Constant score) at three months. The secondary outcomes were the Constant score at six weeks and at six months, the change in pain (on a visual analog scale), and the active and passive range of motion.
                At three months and at six weeks, the early mobilization group had a significantly better Constant score than did the conventional-treatment group (between-group difference, 9.9 [95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 17.8] [p = 0.02] and 10.1 [95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 18.1] [p = 0.02], respectively) and better active mobility in forward elevation (between-group difference, 12.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.7 to 22.4] [p = 0.02] and 28.1 [95% confidence interval, 7.1 to 49.1] [p = 0.01], respectively). At three months, the early mobilization group had significantly reduced pain compared with the conventional-treatment group (between-group difference, 15.7 [95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 30.8] [p = 0.04]). No complications in displacement or nonhealing were noted.
                Early mobilization for impacted nonoperatively treated proximal humeral fractures is safe and is more effective for quickly restoring the physical capability and performance of the injured arm than is conventional immobilization followed by physiotherapy. Arthroscopic stabilization for anterior shoulder instability has been reported to result in a higher rate of recurrent instability compared to traditional open techniques.
                To test the null hypothesis that there is no difference in the clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability treated with open or arthroscopic stabilization.
                Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
                A consecutive series of 64 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability were randomized to receive either arthroscopic or open stabilization by a single surgeon. Magnetic resonance arthrogram studies were obtained preoperatively. These findings were compared to arthroscopic findings. Postoperative evaluations included range of motion, stability, and subjective assessments including Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, Simple Shoulder Test, Western Ontario Instability Index, and University of California, Los Angeles evaluation. Failure was defined as a second dislocation, recurrent subluxation, or symptoms precluding return to previous work or unrestricted active military duty.
                Sixty-one patients, 29 who received open stabilization and 32 who received arthroscopic stabilization, were evaluated at a mean of 32 months postoperatively (range, 24-48 months). Patient demographics were equivalent. Preoperative magnetic resonance arthrogram findings were confirmed at arthroscopic examination. The mean operative time was significantly shorter for the arthroscopic repairs (59 vs 149 minutes; P < .001). There were 3 clinical failures (2 open stabilizations, 1 arthroscopic stabilization) by the established criteria. There was a statistically significant improvement from preoperative to postoperative Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores in both groups (P < .001). The mean loss of motion (compared to the contralateral shoulder) was greater in the open shoulders. Subjective evaluations were equal in both groups. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes after arthroscopic and open stabilization were comparable. Preoperative magnetic resonance arthrograms in shoulders with anterior instability allow an accurate diagnosis of intra-articular abnormality that correlates well with operative findings. Arthroscopic stabilization for recurrent anterior shoulder instability can be performed safely; the clinical outcomes are comparable to those after traditional open stabilization. A prospective, randomized, nonblinded clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate whether local intraarticular lidocaine injection (IAL) is equally effective in facilitating reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocations (AASD) as intravenous analgesia/sedation (IVAS). The setting was an urban, Level 1, trauma center. Patients enrolled presented to the emergency department (ED) with radiographically confirmed AASD and were randomized either to the IVAS group or the IAL group. Ease of reduction and pain associated with reduction were measured subjectively using a 10-point scale. There were 49 patients entered into the study, 20 in the IVAS group and 29 in the IAL group. There was no statistically significant difference between mean +/- SD pain scores of 3.32+/-2.39 in the IVAS group and 4.90+/-2.34 in the IAL group (P = .18), or mean +/- SD ease of reduction scores of 3.32+/-2.36 in the IVAS group and 4.45+/-2.46 in the IAL group (P = .12). Although IVAS tended to have a higher success rate (20 of 20) than IAL (25 of 29) in this study, Kaplan-Meier estimates for delayed time-events curves applying the log-rank test showed that this difference was not statistically significant overall (P = .16). However, with reduction rate evaluated as a function of time delay in seeking treatment, patients presenting 5.5 hours after dislocation were more likely to fail treatment with IAL (P = .00001). Additionally, half of the patients in the IAL group who had experience with IVAS did not favor IAL. Emergency physicians should be aware of IAL as an alternative technique that may be considered in patients when there are reasons to avoid systemic analgesia or sedation. Young individuals have a high recurrence rate following non-operative treatment of traumatic primary anterior shoulder dislocation. The present multicentre study was undertaken to find out whether the results could be improved by using arthroscopic lavage as treatment. Sixty patients aged 16-30 years, with traumatic primary anterior shoulder dislocation were randomised into two groups. One group was treated with arthroscopic lavage within 10 days, while the other group was treated non-operatively. Rehabilitation was otherwise identical. At 1-year follow-up, 4 of 30 patients (13%) in the lavage group had had redislocation compared with 13 of 30 (43%) in the group treated non-operatively (P = 0.01). The difference in recurrence rate was more pronounced in younger patients. The functional outcome according to the Rowe shoulder score was better in the lavage group (P = 0.003), as was the anterior stability according to the apprehension test (P = 0.008). We conclude that arthroscopic lavage reduced the recurrence rate and produced a better functional outcome at 1-year follow-up than the non-operative treatment in young individuals. This preliminary prospective study was conducted to determine whether immobilization with the arm in external rotation would decrease the rate of recurrence after initial traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Forty patients with initial shoulder dislocations were assigned to (1) conventional immobilization in internal rotation (IR group, n = 20) or (2) a new method of immobilization in external rotation (ER group, n = 20). The recurrence rate was 30% in the IR group and 0% in the ER group at a mean 15.5 months. The difference in recurrence rate was even greater among those who were aged less than 30 years (45% in the IR group and 0% in the ER group). Immobilization with the arm in external rotation is effective in reducing the rate of recurrence after initial dislocation of the shoulder. Nonoperative treatment of traumatic shoulder dislocations leads to a high rate of recurrent dislocations.
                Early arthroscopic treatment for shoulder dislocation will result in a lower recurrence rate than nonoperative treatment.
                Prospective, randomized clinical trial.
                Two groups of patients were studied to compare nonoperative treatment with arthroscopic Bankart repair for acute, traumatic shoulder dislocations in young athletes. Fourteen nonoperatively treated patients underwent 4 weeks of immobilization followed by a supervised rehabilitation program. Ten operatively treated patients underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair with a bioabsorbable tack followed by the same rehabilitation protocol as the nonoperatively treated patients. The average follow-up was 36 months.
                Three patients were lost to follow-up. Twelve nonoperatively treated patients remained for follow-up. Nine of these (75%) developed recurrent instability. Six of the nine have required subsequent open Bankart repair for recurrent instability. Of the nine operatively treated patients available for follow-up, only one (11.1%) developed recurrent instability.
                Arthroscopic stabilization of traumatic, first-time anterior shoulder dislocations is an effective and safe treatment that significantly reduces the recurrence rate of shoulder dislocations in young athletes when compared with conventional, nonoperative treatment.
There is a lack of evidence from randomised controlled trials to inform the choices for conservative management following closed reduction of traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder.
Sufficiently powered, good quality, well reported randomised controlled trials with long-term surveillance of conservative management are required. In particular, trials examining the type and duration of immobilisation would be useful.