Dead Arm Syndrome

  • Sudden paralyzing pain & weakness in the arm in young athletes with GHJ instability
  • Transient subluxation in elevation & external rotation
  • Often misdiagnosed as other shoulder pathology or cervical lesion
Dead Arm Syndrome, arthroscopic view of a slap lesion
Arthroscopic view of a SLAP lesion. Image by B3t, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Classification

  • Two categories
    • Aware of subluxation
    • Unaware of subluxation

Rowe’s Series

  • Positive Apprehension Test & History of trauma
  • 64% Bankartlesion
  • Management
    • Responded well to surgical stabilisation

Leffert 1987

  • Relationship between Dead Arm Syndrome & Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • 30% of patients had coexistent TOS
    • Due to altered kinetics of the Scapulothoracic Joint
    • Resultant neurovascular compromise
    • That made DAS symptoms more florid
  • All patients had transient radial pulse obliteration
    • In shoulder external rotation & abduction
  • Therapy
    • aimed toward restoration of GHJ stability
  • Advanced cases may require surgical NV decompression

Reviewed by Professor Phong Tran, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health. Last updated 10 October 2026.