Dislocated Shoulder

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Dislocated Shoulder is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Summary

What is a dislocated shoulder?

Your shoulder joint is made up of three bones: your collarbone, your shoulder blade, and your upper arm bone. The top of your upper arm bone is shaped like a ball. This ball fits into a cuplike socket in your shoulder blade. A shoulder dislocation is an injury that happens when the ball pops out of your socket. A dislocation may be partial, where the ball is only partially out of the socket. It can also be a full dislocation, where the ball is completely out of the socket.

What causes a dislocated shoulder?

Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. They are also the most commonly dislocated joints.

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 gets a dislocated shoulder?

A dislocated shoulder can happen to anyone, but they are more common in young men, who are more often involved in sports and other physical activities. Elderly people, especially women, are also at higher risk because they are more likely to fall.

What are the symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?

The symptoms of a dislocated shoulder include

Severe shoulder pain
Swelling and bruising of your shoulder or upper arm
Numbness and/or weakness in your arm, neck, hand, or fingers
Trouble moving your arm
Your arm seems to be out of place
Muscle spasms in your shoulder

If you are having these symptoms, get medical treatment right away.

How is a dislocated shoulder diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will take a medical history and examine your shoulder. Your provider may also ask you to get an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis.

How is a dislocated shoulder treated?

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.

You may need surgery if you injure the tissues or nerves around the shoulder or if you get repeated dislocations.

A dislocation can make your shoulder unstable. When that happens, it takes less force to dislocate it. This means that there is a higher risk of it happening again. Your health care provider may ask you to continue doing some exercises to prevent another dislocation.

Start Here

Dislocated Shoulder (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)

Symptoms

Dislocated Shoulder: Symptoms and Causes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Dislocated Shoulder: Diagnosis and Treatment (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Shoulder MRI (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)Also in Spanish