From Hippocrates to the Eskimo--a history of techniques used to reduce anterior dislocation of the shoulder.

It has been recognised for thousands of years that the shoulder joint is particularly prone to dislocation following trauma. From the time of Hippocrates, physicians have described a variety of different techniques aimed at reducing shoulder dislocations. In this article we review the historical development of these techniques and suggest that, despite being described as new, many of these are simply variations on an already established method.