CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT FOLLOWING PRIMARY SHOULDER DISLOCATION

Between January 1989 and March 1997, 175 patients with traumatic shoul der dislocations were treated by conservative means (median age 41 yea rs, 39 F, 136 M). In 78 patients (17 F, 61 M) a clinical and radiologi cal follow up (median 50 months, range 6-106) could be obtained. Addit ionally, a diagnostic ultrasound was carried out in all patients. The recurrence rate in the group younger than 30 years (G < 30; n = 35) wa s 86 %; in the group older than 30 years (G > 30; n = 43) it was 21% ( P < 0.05). Persisting neurological deficits were found in 6 patients ( 8 %). According to the Rowe score, 16 patients (46 %) of the G < 30 ac hieved excellent or good results, in the G > 30, 29 patients (67 %). I n 17 % of cases, a glenohumeral arthrosis was diagnosed be radiologica l means. 18 % had radiological signs of a previous fracture of the gre ater tuberosity. Hill-Sachs lesions were identified in 19 % of cases. Rotator cuff tears were diagnosed in 9 % by ultrasound. No relationshi p between the duration of immobilization and the recurrence rate was f ound (P = 0.95). The recurrence rate following primary shoulder disloc ation depends primarily on the patients' age.