The terrible triad of the shoulder.

This case shows that the terrible triad of the shoulder-anterior dislocation, brachial plexus injury, and rotator cuff tear-can occur in younger populations than previously described. A high index of suspicion for this triad of injury should be maintained, particularly in those young individuals with grossly unstable shoulders. Once axillary nerve function has begun to return, simultaneous repair of all soft tissue injuries can lead to a stable, functional joint.