Adolescent traumatic dislocations of the shoulder with open epiphyses.

Nine of 212 cases of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations occurred in children with clearly open epiphyses (4.7% incidence). All cases associated with psychological or physical abnormalities were excluded. A high recurrence rate of 80% (8 of 10) was noted requiring operative intervention. Two of the three remaining unoperated cases had a history of "subluxation" after their initial dislocation.