Inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint combined with the compartment syndrome of the upper arm: case report

Compartment syndromes occurring in the forearm and leg are not infrequent. However, reports of compartment syndrome of the upper arm are conspicuously rare. Inferior dislocation of the shoulder combined with compartment syndrome has rarely been reported in the literature. We report our experience with a patient with inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint combined with compartment syndrome of the upper arm. A 29-year-old man had traumatic inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint combined with severe swelling of the shoulder and upper arm. After close reduction, the shoulder and upper arm were still tensely swollen. Compartment pressure of the upper arm was measured using a digital manometer (Quick Pressure Monitor 295-1, Stryker) and remained very high, thus, fasciotomy was performed. After debridement and skin graft, the arm healed without sequelae. When a patient has a fracture dislocation of the shoulder joint associated with a swollen arm, compartment syndrome of the upper arm should be included as a differential diagnosis. Detecting the compartment pressure can confirm the diagnosis of compartment syndrome objectively.