Myriad techniques exist to reduce shoulder dislocations, which includes scapular rotation, Hennepin, Snowbird, Cunningham, and Legg maneuvers. They are nicely reviewed at ShoulderDoc.co.uk. You can also supplement any technique with ultrasound-guided intraarticular lidocaine for improved pain control.
Recently, Dr. Jay Park (Beth Israel Medical Center in New York) contacted me about his novel approach to shoulder reduction which anatomically makes sense. If his animation video doesn’t convince you, check out the video of an actual reduction.
Trick of the Trade
Park maneuver
I took the liberty of naming this technique after Dr. Park. View the below animation video describing the technique. Essentially the provider positions his/her fist in the patient’s axilla to serve as a fulcrum against which the patient’s elbow is adducted and axially distracted in order to slide the humeral head over the anteroinferior lip of the glenoid rim.
Actual patient demonstration
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