A patient with a fractured coracoid process in association with a dislocation of the shoulder is reported. The fracture was not recognised initially, and early mobilisation was encouraged; the widely separated fracture did not heal and a painful pseudarthrosis developed. We believe that this association may not be as rare as generally supposed, and emphasise the importance of careful clinical examination in patients with shoulder dislocation. If a coracoid fracture is suspected, lateral or oblique radiographs should be taken to confirm the diagnosis. A further radiograph after reduction is a useful precaution.

Severe crush injuries affecting the bones of the carpus are rare. We review the nine cases that have previously been described and report four additional cases which we have treated and followed up. All 13 present remarkable similarities, with disruption of the carpal arch through the capitate-hamate articulation distally and the piso-triquetral joint proximally. Three slightly different variations of this pattern of fracture-dislocation are identified. The flexor retinaculum must be involved to allow the displacement which is seen, and there is usually an extensive laceration of the thenar eminence. Treatment by closed reduction is usually successful. Long-term follow-up shows that, in the absence of nerve or vascular damage, the results are surprisingly good.