Shoulder dislocation is a condition in which the humeral head is removed from its socket. In more than 90% of cases, the dislocation happens toward the front. Shoulder dislocation can happen easily, especially in people who love exercises involving the arms and body impact exercises, and accidents can cause it.
When shoulder dislocation occurs, there is usually pain accompanied by disfigurement of the shoulder, inability to move the arm and numbness due to nerve injury. Shoulder dislocation is mostly caused by an accident such as when the arm is pulled or impacted, including falls from high places and situations where the shoulder is outstretched at shoulder level and becomes severely twisted outward, and some cases are caused by diseases. Whenever shoulder dislocation occurs, it has to be treated immediately. First aid and medical treatment can be provided as follows:
- Arrange the shoulder joint to keep it still in its current position.
- Support the shoulder with the other hand and apply ice to minimize bleeding. Then urgently seek medical attention from a doctor.
- Doctors will treat shoulder dislocation by prescribing a pain medication and then pulling the shoulder joint back into place, followed by fixing it into place with an arm sling for about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the patient will require physical therapy and exercising of the shoulder muscles to restore normal function.
Warnings during an Incident
People located near the patient often try to pull the shoulder joint back into place on their own. This may harm the patient, since the shoulder dislocation might be accompanied by a broken bone or injuries to blood vessels and nerves, making a thorough examination prior to treatment necessary. Thus, if a patient is suspected to have suffered a joint dislocation, the patient should immediately be taken to see a doctor. Do not try to personally treat the patient.
Risk Groups for Shoulder Dislocation
People who play impact sports such as soccer or rugby and athletes who need to raise their arms over their heads such as tennis players, swimmers and gymnasts are at greater risk of suffering from shoulder dislocation. In addition, repeat dislocation may be caused by severe injuries that cause the shoulder structure to become unstable. Often, there is tearing of the ligaments inside the shoulder joint as well, so for patients who frequently experience shoulder dislocation to the point that their daily living is disrupted, the treatment approach is to exercise the shoulder muscles to make them stronger. If shoulder dislocation persists, surgical treatment might be necessary. In doing so, the doctor will repair the damaged ligaments to be reattached to the cartilage and bones or tissues surrounding the joint or reinforce broken bones to prevent dislocation from recurring.
