AP and Y-views are the standard views in the context of trauma
Anterior dislocation is much more common than posterior dislocation
Anterior dislocation results in the humeral head lying anterior to the glenoid and inferior to the coracoid process
Normal shoulder joint
The 'shoulder' joint is more accurately termed the glenohumeral joint.
In the context of trauma there are 2 standard views used to assess this joint. These are the - Anterior-Posterior (AP) view, and the lateral or 'Y-view'.
If the patient can tolerate holding the arm in abduction, an 'axial' view is an alternative to the Y-view.
The acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) is aligned normally
'Shoulder' dislocation
Shoulder dislocation is a term often used loosely to indicate dislocation of the head of the humerus from the glenoid of the scapula.
The shoulder can dislocate posteriorly, but anterior dislocation is approximately 50 times more common.
Anterior dislocations are usually associated with trauma with the arm abducted and in external rotation. Posterior dislocations are associated with electric shocks and epileptic seizures.
