Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine

Original Article: J Korean Acad Rehabil Med. 2002;26(6):658-666.; Anterior Displacement of Humeral Head in Hemiplegic Shoulder Subluxation.; Cheong, Jee Young , Shin, Hye Sung , Han, Soo Jeong , Hwang, Jeong Hye , Lee, Chyung Ki; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Korea. chyungki@mm.ewha.ac.kr

Abstract: Objective
To measure anterior displacement of the humeral head and to observe its relationship with clinical findings in the subluxed hemiplegic shoulders. Method: Seventeen hemiplegic patients, having the subluxed shoulder over one finger breadth were subjected. We measured shoulder pain, muscle power of the shoulder abductors, Brunnstrom stage and spasticity in the affected upper extremity. To measure the humeral displacement of the shoulder subluxation, the AP and transthoracic lateral views of simple radiologic picture were taken on both affected and unaffected shoulders, and repeated after donning three kinds of arm slings. Results: Its anterior displacement as well as the inferior displacement occured in all subjects, and was significantly related with the value of shoulder pain and spasticity, and the inferior displacement with Brunnstrom stage and muscle power of the shoulder abductors in the subluxed hemiplegic shoulder (p＜0.05). Correction of the humeral displacement occured significantly in anterior direction as well as inferior by use of all tested arm slings. Conclusion: Clinical implications of the shoulder subluxation were different according to direction of the humeral displacement, and anterior displacement will be considered for its symptom in hemiplegic shoulder. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 658-666)

Keywords :Hemiplegia, Shoulder subluxation, Anterior displacement