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Shoulder Dislocation

Shoulder Dislocation is when your shoulder is wrenched upward and backward, you may dislocate it out of its socket. This condition is both painful and incapacitating. The force required is often that of a fall or a collision with another person or object (both of which can occur during many sports). Most shoulder dislocations happen at the lower front of the shoulder, because of the particular anatomy of the shoulder joint. The bones of the shoulder are the socket of the shoulder blade (scapula) and the ball at the upper end of the arm bone (humerus). The socket on the shoulder blade is fairly shallow, but a lip or rim of cartilage makes it deeper. The joint is supported on all sides by ligaments called the joint capsule, and the whole thing is covered by the rotator cuff.

A shoulder dislocation generally occurs after an injury such as a fall or a sports-related injury. About 95% of the time, when the shoulder dislocates, the top of the humerus is sitting in front of the shoulder blade--an anterior dislocation. In less than 5% of cases, the top of the humerus is behind the shoulder blade--a posterior dislocation. Posterior dislocations are unusual, and seen after injuries such as electrocution or after a seizure.

Patients with a shoulder dislocation are usually in significant pain. They know something is wrong, but may not know they have sustained a shoulder dislocation. The patient will have great difficulty moving your arm even a little bit.

Diagnosis of a shoulder dislocation is usually quite apparent just by talking to a patient and examining their joint. Patients must be examined to determine if there is any nerve or blood vessel damage. This should be done prior to reduction (repositioning) of the shoulder dislocation. X-rays should be obtained to check for any fracture around the joint, and to determine the pattern of the shoulder dislocation.

Treatment may include medications to lessen pain. After a dislocation is confirmed by x-ray, many people require medicine to lessen pain and help relax the surrounding muscles during the reduction procedure (relocating the joint to its healthy alignment). And if the shoulder dislocation is more severe, surgery may be needed. Consult Dr Kevin Yip and see if surgery is needed for you.

Find out how your Shoulder Dislocation Problem can be more effectively treated.
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