Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Department, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Purpose: The Spaso technique has been recently described as a new, simple and effective manoeuvre for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations. However, there are just few series in the literature. This study evaluates the results obtained with the introduction of this technique in an orthopaedic emergency department.

Material and Methods: An observational prospective study in the emergency department of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona was done from January 2007 to May 2007. In this period the Spaso technique was applied in 36 anterior shoulder dislocations in 35 patients. Two of them were excluded due to an evolution higher than 24 hours. Average age was 51 years-old (range 21-80). The success of the attempt, complications and other data were collected.

Results: The Spaso technique was successful in 23 of the 34 anterior shoulder dislocations (67.6%). If just those patients with previous shoulder dislocation were taken into account, the success rate increased to 83%. No complications were observed.

Conclusion: Based on the presented results, we consider the Spaso technique as a safe and effective manoeuvre for the reduction of the anterior shoulder dislocations, with and acceptable success rate, similar to classical techniques previously described.