Normal anatomy | Anterior dislocation | Posterior dislocation
Overview of Shoulder Dislocation
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and able to move arm in different directions. The high mobility is advantageous for some of overhead athletes or gymnasts but also prone for shoulder instability. Shoulder dislocation occurs when ball (humerus head) comes out of socket (glenoid) and moves in forward, backward or downward direction.
Labrum – Supporting cartilage tissue (usually torn with a first episode of dislocation), called Bankart lesion
Once the shoulder joint is dislocated there is always risk of repeated dislocations due the injury to supporting the ligaments and cartilage(labrum).  Repeated episodes of dislocations causes’ further damage to the cartilage and bone making joint more unstable joint.
Trauma - First time dislocation usually follow a significant trauma eg: sudden jerk to shoulder joint with arm in overhead position, motor-vehicle accident.
Lax joint - Shoulder instability without any significant trauma can occurs when the ligaments, capsule covering the joint are lax or the stabilizing muscles are not able to balance and secure the ball and socket in place.
Sports - Contact sports like wrestling, kabbadi, and football.
Throwing athletes - involved in sports like Cricket, Tennis baseball who undergo repetitive overhead arm motions are prone for shoulder injury / instability.
Patients with acute shoulder dislocation have following symptoms:
- Deformity of the joint.
- Severe shoulder pain.
- Arm numbness.
- Shoulder weakness.
- Difficulty to move the arm.
Have you sustained shoulder dislocation or feeling of unstable shoulder?
You can consult Dr. Abhijit Ranaware (Knee and sports injury Specialist)
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How do you know if you had shoulder dislocation or unstable shoulder ?
Diagnosis of shoulder dislocation is clinical and if patient has first episode of dislocation with severe pain usually need emergency medical care.
Shoulder X rays – will confirm diagnosis and see if any associated fracture with dislocation.
Treating Orthopedic Doctor will manipulate to reduce the joint to original position and apply a sling.
Once the shoulder is reduced patient is followed up by Dr. Abhjit Ranaware in Clinic.
He will go through medical history and perform special tests to check which direction the shoulder joint is more unstable and severity of instability.
  MRI / CT scan– Dr. Abhijit Ranaware may advise MRI & / CT scan to check the injury to supporting soft tissue and associated bone damage.
