Sarah Razaq, Farooq Azam Rathore.
An overview of pathophysiology, assessment and management strategies of post stroke shoulder subluxation.
Pak J Neurological Sci Jan ;11(3):42-8.

Shoulder subluxation is a common complication after stroke. It can result in soft tissue damage, stretching of the joint capsule, rotator cuff injury, and in some cases pain. An estimated 17-81 % of stroke patients have shoulder subluxation. It limits the use of affected extremity in addition to the weakness resulting from stroke itself. It can delay the neurological recovery in hemiplegic stroke patients. The etiology is multifactorial and the underlying mechanisms alongwith its association with shoulder pain are not clearly understood. This makes management of post stroke shoulder- subluxation a challenge for stroke management team. This review provides an overview of current concepts about the causes and prevention/management of post stroke shoulder subluxation. It suggests careful and regular assessments particularly the emerging role of musculoskeletal ultrasound in evaluating the prognosis of shoulder subluxation, and the importance of preempting the development of, and prevention of this distressing complication.

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