OBJECTIVETo introduce the characteristics and its clinical effects of Hennipen external rotation procedure for reduction of acute anterior shoulder dislocation.

METHODSFrom March 2007 to March 2010, 72 patients with acute anterior shoulder dislocation were treated with manipulative reduction in our department. All the patients were divided into two groups: the Hippocratic group with 44 patients receiving regular Hippocratic procedure, and the Hennipen group with 28 patients receiving Hennipen external rotation procedure. Clinical manifestation and radiology were used to diagnose. After reduction procedures, external fixation was applied for another 3 to 4 weeks. The reduction course, complication and function recovery at follow-up were recorded and compared. The student test was used to analyze the difference between groups.

RESULTSThirty-two patients in the Hippocratic group and 3 in Hennipen received intravenous anesthesia. Manipulation time of the Hippocratic group ranged from 2 to 5 minutes with a mean of (3.9 +/- 1.2) minutes, obviously different from that of Hennipen,which ranged from 0.5 to 2 minutes with a mean of (1.3 +/- 0.7) minutes. Complications occurred in 2 cases of the Hippocratic group and none of the Hennipen group. The UCLA scores of shoulder joint at follow-up were 34.2 +/- 2.1 and 33.8 +/- 1.0 respectively in two groups, with no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONCompared with Hippocratic procedure, Hennipen external rotation procedure is easier to manipulate, bring less complications and the same effect. It is worth further clinical applications.