SHOULDER DISLOCATION

The shoulder is a ball-in-socket joint. If the ball comes out of the socket, it results in a dislocation of the shoulder. As the body's most mobile joint, the shoulder is not very stable so it can dislocate very easily. The shoulder joint dislocates more often than any other joint in the body.

The shoulder can dislocate to the front, back, or down. The most common dislocation is to the front. Dislocations happen most often to men 20 to 30 years old and to women 60 to 80 years old. In young men it usually happens while playing sports. In women it happens because they have put their arm out to catch themselves in a fall.

A person with a shoulder dislocation immediately knows when their shoulder has come out of the socket because of the immediate pain. The arm cannot be used and it looks like it is out of place. The muscles of the arm may spasm making the pain worse. There may be some swelling, numbness, weakness, or bruising. There may be nerve damage if the dislocation is not treated as soon as possible. A healthcare provider can put the shoulder back into place. Medication is given to help the person relax. An injection into the shoulder numbs the shoulder so that the provider can gently pull on the arm to ease it back into place.

After the reduction (replacing the bone back into the socket), a special sling is used to keep the arm close to the body to prevent movement. Movement is then restricted for several weeks. When the pain and swelling are better, a recovery program is started. It includes careful movement and strengthening exercises. Complete healing takes several months.

In rare cases, surgery may be necessary for injuries with a lot of joint damage or for repeated dislocations. Surgery may be needed to tighten the ligaments and tendons. Surgery on the shoulder can be done with open surgery or with an arthroscope. The arthroscope is a small, lighted telescope that a surgeon uses to see inside a joint. If the arthroscope is used, several small cuts are made on the shoulder for the arthroscope and other small instruments. The same care following a reduction is needed after surgery. It includes wearing a sling until enough healing has occurred to begin an exercise recovery program.

To avoid dislocations of the shoulder:

stay in shape
strengthen the muscles around your shoulder
wear proper equipment and padding for protection in sports
know your limits and
lift and throw carefully

If you have had a shoulder dislocation, it is important that you follow your healthcare provider's instructions carefully in order to try to avoid more problems or other complications. A shoulder is more likely to dislocate again if proper healing does not take place.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File BONE3452.RF2 VRS# 7639 Data Version 7.0