Shoulder dislocation – loose shoulder

Shoulder dislocation (the shoulder comes out of joint) occurs when the head of the humerus loses contact with the relatively small joint surface of the shoulder blade. The head of the humerus often dislocates anteriorly.

Why does shoulder dislocation occur?

The dislocation usually occurs spontaneously during a sports activity where you push off with your arm. 

The dislocation occurs during a fall where you push off with your hand or fall directly on your shoulder. Depending on the severity of the injury, part of the cartilage rim may be torn off, a so-called labral tear, and part of the bony rim may also be at risk of being torn off. If this happens, a chronic condition may develop where the shoulder feels unstable and painful. The shoulder may dislocate several times in the future.

Symptoms

In the acute dislocation following the fall, you will usually need help to relocate the shoulder. The dislocation is associated with severe pain until the shoulder is back in place. After a few weeks, the shoulder will be normal again.

Especially in younger people, there is a tendency for the shoulder to dislocate completely or partially during certain movements without an actual trauma. In those cases, it is necessary to operate on the shoulder to make it stable again.

Examination

Through a clinical examination of the shoulder and your medical history, the orthopaedic surgeon can make a relatively certain diagnosis. An X-ray will also be necessary to ensure that the shoulder is without fracture. In some cases, an ultrasound scan or MRI scan may be supplemented.

Treatment

Initially, the treatment will be physiotherapy training. Surgery will be considered if there is no improvement in symptoms after a couple of months. The operation will be performed on an outpatient basis using arthroscopic technique, where the stabilising function of the ligaments and labrum in the shoulder is restored.