Shoulder dislocations are often associated with capsular tears and, in older patients, avulsion fractures may also be seen. View shoulder diagrams. Both sets of radiographs displayed above show subcoracoid dislocations. Many textbooks will recommend that radiographs of the shoulder be obtained for all dislocations. In older adults, associated fractures are not uncommon.
Fractures are less common in teenagers.
A typical history and a cooperative teenager would generally indicate that no fracture is present. Loss of the normal delto-pectoral groove is indicative of an anterior dislocation since the humeral head commonly protrudes anteriorly into this space. View delto-pectoral groove. This groove is normally not visible in an anterior shoulder dislocation. The non-affected side can be compared clinically.