Published online Jan 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i1.11
Peer-review started: October 8, 2023
First decision: November 29, 2023
Revised: December 8, 2023
Accepted: December 29, 2023
Article in press: December 29, 2023
Published online: January 18, 2024
Acute traumatic injuries to the glenohumeral articulation are common. The types of injuries depend on age, muscle strength, bone density, and biomechanics of the traumatic event. Understanding the different mechanisms of trauma and how they affect the functional anatomical structures of the shoulder joint is crucial for the treatment of these lesions. Therefore, when clinicians have knowledge of these mechanisms they can accurately diagnose and treat shoulder pathology and predict distinct injury patterns. Here, we have described the fundamentals of the mechanisms of injury of the glenohumeral dislocation, dislocation with fracture of the humeral head, and the proximal humerus fracture. We have focused on common injury mechanisms and the correlation with radiological diagnostics. Radiological and laboratory findings of distinct types of injury were also discussed.
Core Tip: The biomechanics of shoulder trauma have not been fully investigated. In this review, we discuss the factors in addition to age, muscle strength, and bone density that play an important role in the development of different types of injury. Knowledge of specific injuries based on the mechanism of the injury will enable the clinician to diagnose and treat the injury even if radiological imaging must be delayed or if detailed radiological imaging is unavailable. In addition, knowledge of shoulder trauma mechanisms will enable clinicians to reduce the possibility of falsely omitting negative imaging findings.