Shoulder dislocation why

Resources No links available. For You Patient Handouts. What is a dislocated shoulder? What causes a dislocated shoulder? The most common causes of shoulder dislocations are Sports injuries Accidents, including traffic accidents Falling on your shoulder or outstretched arm Seizures and electric shocks, which can cause muscle contractions that pull the arm out of place Who is at risk for a dislocated shoulder? What are the symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?

How is a dislocated shoulder diagnosed? What are the treatments for a dislocated shoulder? The treatment for dislocated shoulder usually involves three steps: The first step is a closed reduction, a procedure in which your health care provider puts the ball of your upper arm back into the socket. You may first get medicine to relieve the pain and relax your shoulder muscles. Once the joint is back in place, the severe pain should end.

The second step is wearing a sling or other device to keep your shoulder in place. You will wear it for a few days to several weeks.

The third step is rehabilitation, once the pain and swelling have improved. You will do exercises to improve your range of motion and strengthen your muscles. Start Here. In most cases of dislocated shoulder, the ball part of the joint pops out in front of the shoulder socket. It's much more unusual for the bone to pop out of the back of the shoulder joint.

This can happen after an epileptic fit or an electrocution injury, and is less easy to spot. Do not try to pop your arm back in yourself — you could damage the tissues, nerves and blood vessels around the shoulder joint. Place something soft, such as a folded blanket or pillow, in the gap between your arm and the side of your chest to support it. If you can, ask someone to make a simple sling to hold your lower arm across your chest, with the elbow bent at a right angle. You'll usually have an X-ray to check whether you've broken any bones and confirm the dislocation.

If you have a fracture, you may have further scans to investigate the area in more detail. Fractures with a shoulder dislocation require specialist orthopaedic care, and you may need surgery. If you do not have any fractures, your arm will be gently manipulated back into its shoulder joint using a procedure known as reduction.

While you're sitting on the bed, the doctor will rotate your arm around the shoulder joint until it goes back in its socket. This may take a few minutes. You'll usually have another X-ray to check your shoulder is in the correct position once your shoulder joint is back in place. If these tissues have been damaged, you may need surgery to repair them. This can significantly reduce the chance of dislocating the same shoulder again in the future for some people.

Surgery to repair shoulder tissues is done under general anaesthetic. It's often done using keyhole surgery, where small cuts incisions and a thin tube with a light and camera at one end arthroscope are used. Sometimes it's necessary to have open surgery to move bones around in the shoulder to prevent further dislocations. Surgery can sometimes be avoided by doing appropriate exercises to strengthen the shoulder if the tissues are overstretched but not torn.

You can usually go home soon after your shoulder is put back in place, but you'll need to rest your arm in a sling for a few days while the pain settles. Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you. Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways. Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit. Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Not what you're looking for? Want More Information? Cedars-Sinai has a range of comprehensive treatment options.

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