Place the patient on a stretcher in the supine position (Fig. 1). Be sure that the level of the stretcher is suitable for the surgeon’s height in order to facilitate reduction.

Gently place the affected arm on the side of the patient with the elbow in an extended position.

Advise the patient to hold the stretcher with the opposite hand (arrow) (Fig. 1).

Make sure that the patient is lying comfortably and is relaxed as possible.

Explain the entire procedure to the patient.

Convince the patient that his/her cooperation is necessary for a better outcome. Make sure that he/she understands that the reduction will be achieved gently, gradually, and not aggressively and that he/she will experience minimal discomfort.

Communicate with the patient during the entire procedure.

Advise the patient to take relaxing deep breaths.

Stand at the side of the affected extremity, facing the patient.

Firmly hold the patient’s hand with both of your hands (Fig. 2-A). Hold the patient’s hand throughout the procedure.

Keep the elbow extended and the forearm in neutral rotation (arrow) (Fig. 2-B).

Start the procedure at 30° of shoulder abduction (Fig. 2-B).

Apply gentle longitudinal traction to keep the arm extended, making sure that the applied traction is continuous throughout the procedure.

Add gentle vertical oscillating movements. Continuously oscillate the arm (two or three full “cycles” per second) with “short-range” movements (approximately 5 cm above and beneath the horizontal level) that resemble the motion of a wave.

Gradually abduct the arm to 90° while simultaneously applying longitudinal traction and vertical oscillating movements (arrow) (Fig. 3-A).

Gradually externally rotate the arm (arrow) (Fig. 3-B), achieving full external rotation (Fig. 3-B).

Keep in mind that gentle longitudinal traction, vertical oscillating movements, shoulder abduction, and external rotation of the arm need to be performed simultaneously.

Continue to abduct the arm; the dislocation is usually reduced once 120° to 150° of shoulder abduction has been achieved (Fig. 4-A). Keep in mind that reduction is not necessarily accompanied by a “clunk.”

While holding the reduced arm, place your opposite hand on the patient’s axilla and gently move the forearm to lie across the chest (Fig. 4-B).

Once reduction has been achieved, discharge the patient with his/her arm immobilized in internal rotation with a sling (Fig. 4-C).

Anterior glenohumeral dislocation with or without a fracture of the greater tuberosity

Patients who are skeletally mature

Recurrent anterior glenohumeral dislocation

Anterior glenohumeral dislocation accompanied by a humeral fracture other than a fracture of the greater tuberosity

A neurological deficit in the affected extremity prior to the reduction attempt

Posterior glenohumeral dislocation (a relative contraindication)

A physician not familiar with the method

The reduction may not succeed if the patient is not cooperative.

Dislocations that are not recent may be difficult to reduce with this method.

The success of the FARES method depends on the cooperation of the patient and the strict continuity of its steps. Interruption of the procedure at any of its stages may lead to the failure of the attempt to reduce the dislocation.

Aggressive longitudinal traction may cause discomfort that will eventually lead to failure of the attempt to reduce the dislocation.

Longitudinal traction, oscillating movements, shoulder abduction, and external rotation of the arm must be simultaneously and gently applied, or the reduction attempt may fail.

The FARES method seems to be very well tolerated by the patient. Is this an indirect indication of minimal trauma during the reduction? This needs to be further explored and validated.

Is there a possibility that the reduction method is directly associated with the later development of shoulder instability? If so, can minimal trauma during reduction eventually lead to fewer patients with shoulder instability? This also needs to be verified.