Introduction: Modified Steel's Maneuver for Shoulder Dislocation Reduction

About: Orthopedic surgeron, specializing in sports injuries in Mexico. Love to cook. Black belt in Karate and kenpo.

Disclaimer:

This video cannot substitute proper medical attention, and it's aimed towards student doctor who need to clear their doubts. So, if you rip someone's arm off or break something, it's your neck. I cannot be held responsible for absolutely anything derived from this video, be it positive or negative. That said....

Modified Steel's Maneuver is one of the most useful weapons in an Orthopedic Surgeon's arsenal. It involves gentle, slow manipulation of the arm to an anatomical reduction. As you can see in the video, the patient is not even sedated. If performed correctly, sedation and analgesia can be avoided.

Start by calming the patient down and gently taking the arm to external rotation and abduction. As you manipulate the arm, you'll notice the scapula eaves the bed. This usually means you reached maximum external rotation, and is generally the point where the joint is reduced. Nevertheless, you must carry on with the whole procedure every time. Continue abducting the arm until the patient's hand reaches the back of their neck, and finish by adducting and internally rotating the arm to a resting position.

Immobilize the arm using a Velpeau splint for 2 to 3 weeks and start rehabilitation early, or risk a frozen shoulder syndrome

Always obtain X Rays prior and after manipulation to rule out associated fractures