EARLY COMPLICATIONS AFTER ANTERIOR DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER IN PATIENTS OVER 40 YEARS - AN ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC STUDY

The rate of complications after anterior dislocation of the shoulder w as evaluated in 65 patients aged over 40 years. 36 of 55 cases had ele ctromyographically verified axillary nerve or brachial plexus injury. Rotator-cuff lesion was seen in 24 of the 63 sonographically examined cases. At follow-up in a telephone interview on average 3 years after the injury, 27 of the 57 cases had complaints from their shoulder. The incidence of initial nerve and/or cuff lesions was higher in those wi th persisting symptoms at follow-up.