Closed Reduction of Common Shoulder and Elbow Dislocations Without Anesthesia

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the simple fact that the majority of common shoulder and elbow dislocations can be reduced without anesthesia, without increased pain or trauma to the patient.

Of the 28 dislocations of the shoulder and of the 20 dislocations of the elbow we have encountered at the U. S. Army Hospital, U. S. Military Academy, since June, 1954, all were reduced without anesthesia and without significant increased pain or trauma. Since the initial preparation of this paper, two additional dislocations of the shoulder and three additional dislocations of the elbow have been encountered.

Shoulder Dislocations  One of three methods (none completely original with me) was used in reducing the dislocated shoulders in this series. The method most frequently used was one similar to the Milch technique, advocated by Lacey and Crawford.¹ The second method is Boehler's method, which is actually a self-reduction method.