What Causes Shoulder Dislocation? Shoulder Dislocation Treatment

Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Dr. Lecturer Burak ÇAĞRI aksu said that shoulder dislocation is more common in young people and continued his words as follows “Statistics show that young people under the age of 20 who have experienced shoulder dislocation are at risk. The probability of a second shoulder dislocation is 90 percent under the age of 20. Therefore, this age group is important. "If people are over the age of 30, the risk of recurrence drops significantly," 

What is Shoulder Dislocation?

Shoulder dislocation occurs when the upper end of the arm bone (humerus) comes out of its socket (glenoid) in the shoulder joint. As the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder is at risk of dislocation in individuals of all age groups. Severe trauma, falls, or sports injuries are common causes of shoulder dislocation. In such cases, it is crucial to avoid moving the joint and seek medical attention immediately.

What Causes Shoulder Dislocation?

Shoulder dislocations are among orthopedic emergencies. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Dr. AKSU said that shoulder dislocation can occur in all age groups due to diseases that cause loss of consciousness such as falls, trauma during sports activities, or epileptic seizures. Our specialist explained that in case of a shoulder dislocation, the dislocated joint must first be repositioned and then medically treated, otherwise the dislocation may recur.

What are the Symptoms of Shoulder Dislocation?

Explaining that the most typical symptom of shoulder dislocation is severe pain, our specialist explained that although sometimes a tingling sensation and numbness are experienced in the arm and hand, the pain is so obvious that there is no room for doubt. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist gave the following information about the symptoms:

“When shoulder dislocation occurs, the patient immediately applies to emergency services. When comparing the two sides of the shoulder, patients notice a drastic change in its symmetry and the joint is out of place. He also has difficulty moving his arm. The first treatment for shoulder dislocation is to replace the shoulder joint. "We can usually do this in emergency situations, perhaps by giving some relaxing medication, without giving anesthesia."

How to Diagnose Shoulder Dislocation?

Our specialist stated that the first treatment of shoulder dislocation was done in the emergency room and that the patient should not be kept waiting for long hours. He said that shoulder dislocation will cause very severe pain in the patient who is kept waiting for long hours and may affect bone circulation and nerve tissue. Our expert said that in this case, the first treatment that needs to be done is to replace the shoulder joint and continued: “After the first intervention in shoulder dislocation, treatment is planned in the form of physical therapy, surgical treatment or a combination of these, as a result of follow-ups and radiological examinations. "If these are not followed, we may encounter problems such as instability in the shoulder joint, re-dislocation, chronic painful shoulder, and decreased range of motion," he said.

How is Shoulder Dislocation Treated?

Stating that today's treatment is 90 percent closed, that is, arthroscopic surgery, our specialist said, “The complication rate that patients may experience after closed surgery is also lower. However, there are things the patient should pay attention to during this healing process. First of all, physical therapy is definitely required during this process. Depending on the patient's ability, we often find it appropriate to continue with physical therapy. "We will complete the acute recovery period within 4-6 weeks," he said.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Dislocation