An anterior shoulder dislocation commonly injures which nerve?

An anterior shoulder dislocation commonly injures which nerve?

• A. Musculocutaneous nerve
• B. Radial nerve
• C. Median nerve
• D. Axillary nerve

Answer: (D)

Anterior dislocations of the shoulder put nerves that run close to the joint at risk. The axillary nerve travels with the posterior circumflex humeral artery around the surgical neck of the humerus, so when the humeral head dislocates anteriorly, this nerve is commonly stretched or compressed. Injury to the axillary nerve impairs deltoid and teres minor function, leading to weakness of arm abduction and loss of sensation over the lateral shoulder (the regimental badge area). That combination—weakened abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulder—is the typical sign of axillary nerve injury after an anterior shoulder dislocation. The other nerves listed are less likely involved by this specific mechanism because they lie in different regions of the arm and are not as closely associated with the surgical neck of the humerus.

Anterior dislocations of the shoulder put nerves that run close to the joint at risk. The axillary nerve travels with the posterior circumflex humeral artery around the surgical neck of the humerus, so when the humeral head dislocates anteriorly, this nerve is commonly stretched or compressed. Injury to the axillary nerve impairs deltoid and teres minor function, leading to weakness of arm abduction and loss of sensation over the lateral shoulder (the regimental badge area). That combination—weakened abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulder—is the typical sign of axillary nerve injury after an anterior shoulder dislocation. The other nerves listed are less likely involved by this specific mechanism because they lie in different regions of the arm and are not as closely associated with the surgical neck of the humerus.