Shoulder Dislocation

If your shoulder is dislocated, it means the ball of your shoulder bone has popped out of its socket. The injury can make your joint unstable, meaning you're more likely to experience another shoulder dislocation. Look to EvergreenHealth for the expert care that is needed to help stabilize your joint so it stays securely in place over the long term.

What causes a shoulder dislocation?

The most common cause for a shoulder dislocation is a fall or a sports injury. The shoulder has ligaments and tendons that keep the shoulder joint stable. If the shoulder is moved violently and the ligaments or tendons are torn, then the shoulder can dislocate. In a small number of people, the ligaments are loose from an early age, so even minor injuries can cause a dislocation, but this is rare.

What are the symptoms?

If your shoulder becomes dislocated, you will likely experience severe pain and won't be able to move the impacted shoulder. Usually a shoulder reduction, which reduces the degree of the dislocation, is needed in the emergency room. Some individuals may be able to reduce the dislocation with the help of trainer or medic. Once the shoulder is reduced, the pain relief is usually immediate.

How do you treat a shoulder dislocation?

Following a shoulder reduction, you'll likely keep your arm in a sling for a few weeks and then gradually resume your normal activity.

Athletes who dislocate their shoulders during their sport may not be able to return to their sport until their strength returns to normal, which can take several weeks.

You should seek medical attention after a dislocation so the shoulder can be examined. If the shoulder remains loose, it may dislocate again, and further treatment should be considered. If the shoulder exam is normal, then you will likely do well without any further treatment as long as you remain uninjured.

Some sports or activities make further injury more likely, so a discussion with an orthopedic surgeon is recommended.

Shoulders that remain loose and are prone to reinjury may require surgery to make the shoulder stable again. Ligaments around the shoulder can be injured, and surgery can be done to repair the ligaments and stabilize the shoulder.

There are many different types of surgery that can be done depending on the severity of the injury. Most surgeries can be done arthroscopically through small incisions in the shoulder. Other more complex surgeries require a larger incision to access all the different torn tendons and ligaments. In rare cases, reconstruction of the bone around the shoulder needs to be done to make the shoulder stable again.