How To Reduce Anterior Shoulder Dislocations Using the Stimson Technique

Anterior dislocation of the shoulder

Greater tuberosity fracture with > 1 cm displacement

Significant Hill-Sachs deformity (≥ 20% humeral head deformity due to impaction against glenoid rim)

Surgical neck fracture (below the greater and lesser tuberosities)

Bankart fracture (anteroinferior glenoid rim) involving a bone fragment of over 20% and with glenohumeral instability

Proximal humeral fracture Proximal Humeral Fractures Proximal humeral fractures are proximal to the surgical neck (see figure Key anatomic landmarks in the proximal humerus). Most are minimally displaced and angulated. Diagnosis is by plain x-ray... read more of 2 or more parts

The joint is exposed (ie, an open dislocation)

The patient is a child, in whom a physeal (growth plate) fracture is often present; however, if a neurovascular deficit is present, reduction should be done immediately if the orthopedic surgeon is unavailable.

The dislocation is older than 7 to 10 days, due to an increased risk of damaging the axillary artery during the reduction, especially in older patients

Intoxicated or multi-trauma patient: Prone position (part of Stimson method) impedes care and monitoring of such patients.

Pregnant patient: Prone position causes abdominal discomfort.

5- to 15-pound weights (commercial weights or bags of IV fluids) and materials (eg, stockinette, padded wrist restraint, or commercial device) to hang the weights from the patient’s wrist

A strap, sheet, or other means of restraint to keep the patient from slipping off the stretcher

Intra-articular anesthetic: 20 mL of 1% lidocaine, 20-mL syringe, 2-inch 20-gauge needle, antiseptic solution (eg, chlorhexidine, povidone iodine), gauze pads

Shoulder immobilizer or sling and swathe

Intra-articular anesthesia is well suited to the Stimson technique, providing excellent analgesia and requiring minimal patient monitoring.

Regional anesthesia may be used (eg, ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block) but has the disadvantage of limiting post-reduction neurologic examination.

Procedural sedation should be avoided for the Stimson technique because the consequences of respiratory inhibition will be amplified by the patient’s prone position and because safely monitoring the patient and maintaining adequate sedation for the duration of this procedure can be difficult.

In most anterior dislocations, the humeral head is trapped outside and against the anterior lip of the glenoid fossa. Reduction techniques must distract the humeral head away from the lip and then return the humeral head into the fossa.

Deficits of the axillary nerve are the most frequent nerve deficits with anterior shoulder dislocations. They often resolve within several months, sometimes soon after the shoulder reduction.

Axillary artery injury is rare with anterior shoulder dislocations and suggests possible concurrent brachial plexus injury (because the brachial plexus surrounds the artery).

Place the patient prone on the stretcher with the affected arm hanging off the side and tie the patient’s hips to the stretcher with a restraining strap or bed sheet to prevent the patient from falling off the stretcher.

Distal pulses, capillary refill, cool extremity (axillary artery)

Light touch sensation of the lateral aspect of the upper arm (axillary nerve), thenar and hypothenar eminences (median and ulnar nerves), and dorsum of the 1st web space (radial nerve)

Shoulder abduction against resistance, while feeling the deltoid muscle for contraction (axillary nerve): However, if this test worsens the patient's pain, omit it until after the shoulder has been reduced.

Thumb-index finger apposition ("OK" gesture) and finger flexion against resistance (median nerve)

Finger abduction against resistance (ulnar nerve)

Wrist and finger extension against resistance (radial nerve)

The needle insertion site is about 2 cm inferior to the lateral edge of the acromion process (into the depression created by the absence of the humeral head).

Swab the area with antiseptic solution, and allow the antiseptic solution to dry for at least 1 minute.

Optional: Place a skin wheal of local anesthetic (≤ 1 mL) at the site.

Insert the intra-articular needle perpendicular to the skin, apply back pressure on the syringe plunger, and advance the needle medially and slightly inferiorly about 2 cm.

If any blood is aspirated from the joint, hold the needle hub motionless, switch to an empty syringe, aspirate all of the blood, and re-attach the anesthetic syringe.

Inject 10 to 20 mL of anesthetic solution (eg, 1% lidocaine).

Wait for analgesia to occur (up to 15 to 20 minutes) before proceeding.

With the patient prone and secured to the bed, hang the weights from the wrist. The weights may be added gradually rather than all at once, if necessary, to minimize the patient's discomfort. After up to 30 minutes, the muscle spasm usually relaxes enough to allow the humeral head to reduce.

If reduction does not occur, manually add some downward traction or apply gentle external rotation to the upper arm.

If reduction does not occur, do scapular manipulation How To Reduce Anterior Shoulder Dislocations Using Scapular Manipulation Scapular manipulation repositions the glenoid fossa rather than the humeral head. It requires less force than many other methods, can sometimes be done without analgesia, and is a popular first... read more with the weights still in place.

Successful reduction is preliminarily confirmed by restoration of a normal round shoulder contour, by decreased pain, and by the patient's renewed ability to reach across the chest and place the palm of the hand upon the opposite shoulder.

Immobilize the shoulder with a sling and swathe or with a shoulder immobilizer.

Because the joint can spontaneously dislocate after successful reduction, do not delay immobilizing the joint.

Do a post-procedure neurovascular examination. A neurovascular deficit warrants immediate orthopedic evaluation.

Do post-procedure x-rays to confirm proper reduction and identify any coexisting fractures.

Arrange orthopedic follow-up.

Ensure that the patient is secured to the stretcher to prevent falling off the stretcher.

Apparent shoulder dislocation in a child is often a fracture involving the growth plate, which tends to fracture before the joint is disrupted.

In patients who return with increased pain within 48 hours after a reduction, hemarthrosis is likely (unless the shoulder has again dislocated). Aspirate the blood from the joint space (see How to Do Arthrocentesis of the Shoulder How To Do Shoulder Arthrocentesis Arthrocentesis of the shoulder is the process of puncturing the glenohumeral joint with a needle to withdraw synovial fluid. The anterior approach, which is described here, is most common and... read more ).