The recurrence rate following acute anterior shoulder dislocations is high, particularly in young, active individuals. The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative overview of the best available evidence and results with regards to diagnostic considerations, comorbidities, position of immobilization, surgical versus conservative management, and time to return to play for the management of primary anterior shoulder dislocations. Three independent reviewers performed literature searches using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews meeting inclusion criteria from 1930 to April 2019 were appraised and discussed with the intent to consolidate the best available evidence with regards to lowering recurrence rates. A majority of studies support early surgical intervention for individuals between 21 and 30 years of age following primary shoulder dislocations, as this group is particularly susceptible to recurrence. Conservative treatment plans favor 1-3 weeks of immobilization in internal rotation, followed by rehabilitation. Surgical methods are associated with longer time to return to play, but lower recurrence rates. Return to play time is best determined on an individualized basis, when subjective and objective function of both shoulders is determined to be symmetric. This paper broadly summarizes the best available evidence for the management of primary anterior shoulder dislocations. There remains a need for randomized studies to determine ideal long-term treatment following conservative or surgical management, as general timelines for returning to play following injury remain vague.
Subgaleal hemorrhage is commonly described in the neonatal population but is a rare injury in young children and adolescents. Though infrequently seen, it can follow blunt head trauma or hair pulling. This case report details a 4-year-old African American boy with massive subgaleal hemorrhage and bilateral periorbital swelling and ecchymosis as a result of hair pulling in the setting of child physical abuse. The patient was evaluated in the emergency department for swelling of his scalp several hours after reportedly bumping his head on a chair. He was discharged home after a head computed tomography only confirmed soft tissue hematoma. The following morning, the findings progressed and he returned to the emergency department. He was triaged as a trauma and initially evaluated by the emergency physician, pediatric trauma surgeon, and pediatric neurosurgeon. Head computed tomography scan confirmed diffuse scalp edema without skull fracture or intracranial pathology. The child abuse specialty service was consulted for suspected child physical abuse. Their examination revealed numerous scattered bruises on the trunk and thighs, several of which were patterned. Local police investigation resulted in the patient's grandfather confessing to striking the patient with a belt and picking him up from the ground by his hair, the latter of which is a mechanism consistent with the patient's dramatic scalp and facial findings. The authors encourage consultation by a specialist in child abuse pediatrics for subgaleal hemorrhage and/or raccoon eyes in the presence of minor trauma, as well as thorough head-totoe skin examination for all children presenting with injuries.
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