Too good to be true? Our experience with the Cunningham method of dislocated shoulder reduction

Effectiveness of the Cunningham technique for shoulder dislocation reduction and its role in providing analgesia and muscle relaxation as an adjunctive method

BACKGROUND

Shoulder dislocation, particularly anterior dislocation, is a common orthopedic injury often presenting in emergency care settings, characterized by significant pain and muscle spasms. Prompt reduction is essential to alleviate symptoms and restore function. The Cunningham technique employs gentle pulling and massage motions targeted at the muscles and has emerged as a promising method for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations. However, its reported success rates vary widely across studies, and questions remain regarding its efficacy, particularly in cases of failure. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cunningham technique for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations and its potential role in providing analgesia and muscle relaxation as an adjunctive method.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients presenting with acute anterior shoulder dislocation at a single center. Reduction using the Cunningham technique was performed initially, followed by the external rotation technique if unsuccessful. Procedural sedation and analgesia were administered if the reduction was still not achieved, and shoulder dislocation reduction was performed again through the external rotation method. The patients' VAS scores were recorded and evaluated the Cunningham technique's effectiveness in reduction and whether it increases the effectiveness of other techniques applied for reduction by lowering the VAS score, even in cases where it is not effective.

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients were included in the study. The reduction was performed using the Cunningham technique in 34.4% (21/61) patients, the external rotation technique in 47.5% (29/61) patients, and the external rotation technique with PSA in 18% (11/61) patients. Significant differences were observed in the duration of hospital stay among the three techniques, with ER with PSA resulting in the longest stay. VAS scores showed significant improvements from initial presentation to post-reduction in all three groups. A significant decrease in pre-reduction VAS scores was observed during the transition from the Cunningham technique to other techniques.

CONCLUSION

The Cunningham technique showed effectiveness in reducing anterior shoulder dislocations, providing analgesia, and muscle relaxation. It demonstrated favorable outcomes as an initial reduction technique, with the external rotation technique used as a subsequent option. Further studies comparing the success rates and complications of the Cunningham technique with other reduction methods are warranted to establish its role in clinical practice.

Which is the most appropriate anterior glenohumeral dislocation reduction technique among three different techniques? A prospective, randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare three glenohumeral dislocation (GHD) reduction techniques in terms of pain and reduction time and to offer clinicians an idea of the selection of the most appropriate technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multi-center, prospective, randomized clinical study included a total of 90 patients (55 males, 35 females; median age: 29 years; range, 22 to 41 years) who had isolated anterior GHD without complication between December 2019 and December 2021. The patients were divided into three equal groups (traction-countertraction [TCT], external rotation [ExR], and Cunningham) using the block randomization method, and reductions were performed. Pre-reduction, intra-reduction, and post-reduction Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, reduction times, success rates, and complication rates were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of age (p=0.414), sex (p=0.954), pre-reduction VAS (p=0.175), and post-reduction VAS (p=0.204). The median intra-reduction VAS values in the TCT, the external rotation, and the Cunningham groups were 8 (range, 7 to 9), 5 (range, 4 to 7), and 4 (range, 2.75 to 5), respectively (p<0.001). The median reduction time and IQR were 105 (range, 82.5 to 120) sec for TCT, 270 (range, 232.5 to 300) sec for ExR, and 630 (range, 540 to 780) sec for Cunningham (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

The fastest, but most painful technique is TCT, while the longest and the least painful technique is Cunningham. An inverse relationship is found between time and pain. Based on these findings, it seems to be reasonable to leave the choice of the ideal reduction technique to the clinician. The clinician should choose the technique to be used according to the conditions in the emergency department.

Shoulder Dislocations in the Emergency Department: A Comprehensive Review of Reduction Techniques

BACKGROUND

Shoulder dislocations are a common presentation to the emergency department and one of the most frequent types of joint dislocations. Studies have found that delays from presentation to first reduction attempt and failed attempt at initial reduction are associated with lower rates of overall reduction success.

DISCUSSION

This article reviews 26 total reduction techniques, as well as a variety of modifications to these techniques. Each technique has distinct advantages and limitations associated with its use. While there are limited data comparing specific techniques, the individual success rates of most maneuvers range from 60-100%.

CONCLUSION

It is essential for emergency physicians to be familiar with multiple different reduction techniques in case the initial reduction attempt is unsuccessful or patient-specific characteristics limit the ability to perform certain techniques. This article reviews several reduction maneuvers for shoulder dislocations, variations on these techniques, and advantages and disadvantages for each approach. It is intended to serve as a resource for those interested in expanding their knowledge of shoulder reduction techniques.