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Hand & Upper Limb
intermediate
X-Type

Floating Shoulder Injury

Shoulder Trauma

A 32-year-old motorcyclist is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed collision. He has right shoulder pain and an inability to move the arm. Radiographs show a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture and an ipsilateral scapular neck fracture with significant glenoid medialization. CT confirms the fracture patterns. There is no neurovascular deficit. Associated injuries include multiple rib fractures and a pneumothorax. Regarding floating shoulder injuries:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

A floating shoulder is defined as disruption of the superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC) at t...

B

The mechanism is typically high-energy trauma such as motorcycle accidents, falls from height, or mo...

C

Floating shoulder involves only fractures of the clavicle without scapular involvement; it is typica...

D

Indications for surgery include significant glenoid medialization (greater than 10-15mm), glenopolar...

E

Clavicle fixation alone often restores shoulder stability by reconstituting the SSSC strut; the deci...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option