Intrathoracic humeral head fracture-dislocation

There are few cases in the medical literature documenting intrathoracic glenohumeral fracture-dislocations. A total of eight cases have been reported-two intrathoracic humerus dislocations with greater tuberosity fractures,(1,2) and six cases with intrathoracic fracture-dislocations in which the fracture involved the humeral neck.(3-8) With so few cases, treatment modalities vary, and no guidelines exist. Patients in five of the reported cases underwent surgery,(1,3-6) while the other three were treated nonoperatively.(2,7,8) We present a case of a middle-aged woman involved in a high-speed motor vehicle accident who sustained an intrathoracic humeral head fracture-dislocation and underwent operative treatment.