A 35-year-old female skiing falls, experiencing severe pain in her shoulder and loss of sensation in her hand. What is her most likely diagnosis?

The scenario described presents a classic case for the diagnosis of an anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint. This condition is characterized by a fall or trauma to the shoulder that leads to the humeral head being displaced from its normal position in the glenoid cavity. The severe pain reported by the patient is typical, as dislocations are often immensely painful due to the stretching of ligaments, muscles, and nerves surrounding the joint.

In addition to pain, the loss of sensation in her hand suggests possible involvement of the brachial plexus, which can occur during shoulder dislocations. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that control muscle movements and sensation in the arm and hand. When the shoulder dislocates, the position of the humerus can stretch or compress these nerves, contributing to the sensory deficits being experienced.

While a fractured clavicle could potentially cause pain and possibly affect sensation, it is less typical to see loss of sensation in the hand with this injury. Similarly, a rotator cuff injury primarily involves the tendons around the shoulder, which would typically lead to weakness in movement rather than acute loss of sensation. Shoulder impingement syndrome usually involves chronic pain and functional limitations that develop over time rather than the