Abstract
Background: An inferior shoulder dislocation, luxatio erecta, is a rare phenomenon that is seen in approximately 0.5% of shoulder dislocations; the incidence of bilateral luxatio erecta is even more uncommon. They can often be mistaken for anterior shoulder dislocations.
Case Description: This case report discusses the rare occurrence, identification and management of bilateral luxatio in a 48-year-old man after he dove 6 feet from a bridge and into a body of water.
Discussion: The pathognomonic presentation is a patient arriving with an arm hyper-abducted above the head with flexed elbows and pronated forearms. There are several concomitant injuries that can occur, including neurovascular compromise, rotator cuff tears, and humeral fractures.
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Recommended Citation
Heck M, Kramarski H, Sigal A. Hands Up! A Case of Bilateral Luxatio Erecta. Transformative Medicine. 2026; 5(3):33-35. doi: https://doi.org/10.54299/tmed/oxyh1349.