Bilateral posterior pendulum dislocation of the shoulder. Case report and review of the literature.

A 20-year-old patient with bilateral voluntary and involuntary dislocation of both shoulders is reported on. There was no history of significant trauma, no systemic hypermobility of joints, no signs of neurological or psychological problems, and no evidence of joint disease. According to Reischauer's classification of shoulder instabilities, the patient suffered from bilateral posterior pendulum dislocations of his shoulders. The literature is reviewed and different classifications of shoulder instability and the underlying pathology of voluntary and involuntary shoulder dislocations are discussed. After ruling out the possibility of psychological problems, we performed an operative stabilization by arthroscopic means. At 1-year follow-up the patient reported no recurrence, good shoulder musculature, and no disability at work. This result confirms the unsuspicious psychological evaluation and our therapeutic management.