A dislocation occurs when bones on opposite sides of a joint don’t align. Dislocations in the shoulder can occur in the collarbone joint , ball and socket joint and the sternoclavicular joint.

Causes of shoulder dislocation

Causes of a shoulder or upper extremity dislocation can occur from trauma , a fall , direct blow or lifting heavy objects.

Symptoms of shoulder dislocation

Symptoms of a shoulder dislocation / separation include:

• Pain, swelling or bruising
• Inability to move the shoulder or arm
• A bump on the top of the shoulder
• serve pain on top of the shoulder
• Dead arm sensation
• Grinding sensation when trying to move the shoulder
• Shoulder deformity

Diagnosis of shoulder dislocation

If you think you have dislocated your shoulder you should contact a clinician right away.

If you choose to come to us our physiotherapist will take a medical history to determine how the shoulder was dislocated.

A shoulder or upper extremity fracture can be diagnosed with x-rays of the shoulder area in combination with a physical exam. In some cases, your provider may refer you for a CT scan via your GP as well.

Treatment of shoulder dislocation

Non-surgical treatments for shoulder dislocations include:

• Medical realignment — your physiotherapist will pull on the shoulder until the joint is back in place under pain medication
• Sling or brace — a first-time dislocation, may require immobilization  in a sling for 2 to 3 weeks to help reduce the recurrence rate.

Types of surgery for a shoulder dislocation include:

• Arthroscopy — minimally-invasive procedure that uses small incisions, cameras and tiny instruments to go into the shoulder and repair the damage.
• Open surgery — an incision is cut in your shoulder and repair the dislocation in full view ,recovery is longer than having an arthroscopy

Recovery from a shoulder dislocation

In patients under 25 years old, there is an 80% recurrence rate, as you get older, the recurrence decreases.

The goal of treatment is to reduce the chance of a future shoulder dislocation. Physiotherapists would normally  recommend taking at least eight weeks off certain activities to avoid suffering another shoulder dislocation.

If you do not immobilise your shoulder, the likelihood of dislocating again is extremely high. Even with an immobilised shoulder, recurrence rate is relatively high. After the initial immobilisation, it is important to keep the arm in a sling and incorporate physical therapy into your routine to strengthen and stabilise the shoulder.

For a definitive diagnosis about whether you have a shoulder dislocation, or to have an assessment or some treatment contact us by filling out the form below, emailing or calling us.