A 64-year-old woman fell down the stairs and was admitted to the emergency department with severe left shoulder pain. Upon examination, her shoulder showed signs of dislocation and swelling below the clavicle. Tests also revealed sensory deficits in the skin of her left arm, forearm, hand and fingers, indicating damage to the axillary and radial nerves. The physician diagnosed a subcoracoid dislocation of the left shoulder joint complicated by damage to the axillary and radial nerves, caused by the initial trauma and further displacement of the humerus by the pulling muscles. A thorough knowledge of shoulder anatomy and nerve distribution was required to make this diagnosis and interpret the clinical findings.