The purpose of this study is to compare the radiological corrective effect for shoulder subluxation among four different types of arm sling. Three radiologic parameters were measured on plain A-P view: Vertical Distance (VD), Horizontal Distance (HD), Joint Distance (JD). The types of arm sling used in this study were cuff, Kenny-Howard, extension, modified Bobath. We investigated the statistical difference of corrective effect among the types of sling.

The mean value of the VD without sling application was 19.6 mm which was corrected to 13.5 mm by the cuff type, 13.1 mm by the Kenny-Howard, 17.6 mm by the extension type and 14.9 mm by the modified Bobath type. These four values were all significantly different from the value of without sling, which means that all types of sling were effective for VD, and the Kenny-Howard sling was the most effective. The HD of without arm sling application was 24.4 mm, and this was corrected to 22.6, 21.0, 22.4, 26.3 mm respectively by four types of sling. And all these differences had statistical significance. The Kenny-Howard sling showed the lowest value, and the modified-Bobath type showed increased HD reversely. The mean value of JD was 9.6 mm in subluxed shoulder, but this was corrected significantly by four different types of sling. And the Kenny-Howard type was the most effective and cuff type was the second.

The results support that the Kenny-Howard type is the most effective sling for the correction of three distances and the cuff type may be considered as the relatively more effective than the other two slings in VD and JD, but the modified Bobath sling increase HD reversely. This study is limited to the temporary radiologic effect of arm sling, but this conclusion may give very useful and practical suggestion for the sling prescription for subluxed shoulder patients.