Fracture-dislocation of the shoulder with interposition of long head of biceps.

A foundry worker, aged thirty, underwent electro-convulsive therapy for a depressive disorder. Curare ‘as not used. After the treatment his shoulder became swollen, painful and stiff. Radiographs showed a subcoracoid fracture-dislocation with separation of an exceptionally large fragment of the greater tuberosity (Fig. 1). Two days later, under general anaesthesia, the head of the humerus was guided back into the glenoid fossa without much difficulty. Radiographs in the theatre, however, showed that a large gap still separated it from tile avulsed fragment, and manipulations, including full abduction, failed to improve tile apposition (Fig. 2). Open reduction ‘as therefore decided upon.