FRACTURES AND RELATED INJURIES - Medicine for Mountaineering and Other Wilderness Activities - page 150

Figure 11-13. Technique for splinting a dislocated shoulder that cannot be reduced
Communicationwiththeinjuredpersonhelpsachievemaximalrelaxation.Thehumerus
maybegentlyrotatedbymovingtheforearmfromsidetoside,andtheheadofthehumerus
may be gently pushed toward the socket with the fingers of the opposite hand. After a few
minutes, reduction can be recognized by the palpable settling of the humeral head into its
socket and is heralded by the relief of the individual, who is immediately more comfort-
able.Iftheforearmcanbeswungacrossthebodyandcanlieincontactwiththechestwall,
reduction has been achieved.
Asecondmethodtorestorethedislocated bonetoitsnormalpositionistousetheprone
passivetraction method ( Fig. 11-12 ) . The individual must be lying prone on a table, log,
or rock surface with the injured arm hanging downward and not touching the ground. A