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A dislocated shoulder is when the upper arm bone is pulled or pushed out of the shoulder blade socket, or glenohumeral [gleh-no-HUUM-ehr-uhl] joint. A serious dislocation can damage the tendons and ligaments that hold it in place. Dislocated shoulders are a common sports injury, but can also happen if you receive a hard blow to the shoulder in a car accident or a fall.
A dislocated shoulder is when the upper arm bone is pulled or pushed out of the shoulder blade socket, or glenohumeral [gleh-no-HUUM-ehr-uhl] joint. Shoulder dislocations are the most common kind of joint dislocation. There are 3 different types of shoulder dislocation:
A shoulder dislocation may cause damage to the surrounding tissues, including:
Severe shoulder dislocations may require surgery to repair.
The symptoms of shoulder dislocation include:
Other symptoms may include:
Some of these symptoms can also be signs of other serious injuries, like sprains or bone fractures in your arm, shoulder, back, or upper chest.
Dislocations may be difficult to spot in certain people, such as the elderly or anyone who has been in a traumatic accident.
Seek emergency care if you:
Shoulder dislocations happen when too much stress is put on the shoulder joint, causing the arm bone to slip out of place. This stress can be caused by:
Dislocating your shoulder once weakens the joint and makes it more likely that it will be dislocated again in the future.
Your doctor will ask about your injury and perform a physical exam. Imaging tests, such as x-rays, CT (Computed tomography) scans, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans may be needed to confirm the location and severity of the injury or to check for additional damage.
If you have a more serious injury, your doctor may suggest that you see a surgeon. This is more likely the case when there may be nerve or blood vessel damage in the area.
Treatments for a dislocated shoulder include:
During your recovery, it will help to:
You may be able to prevent another dislocation by taking basic steps to keep yourself safe and avoid stressing your shoulder joint. These steps may include: