SHOULDER DISLOCATION

Causes Of Shoulder Dislocation

A shoulder dislocation happens due to a fall or blow to the shoulder. Dislocated shoulders are a more common phenomenon in teens than in younger children, and the chances increase during sports activities.

Causes of a dislocated shoulder include:

• Sports injuries – In sports like football and hockey, a shoulder dislocation is a common injury. In addition, your child might also experience this during downhill skiing, gymnastics, and volleyball.
• Trauma not related to sports – A motor vehicle accident causes a hard blow to the shoulder that causes dislocation.
• Falls – If your child lands awkwardly after a fall, like from a ladder or a loose rug, dislocating the shoulder is very common.

Dislocated Shoulder Symptoms

It should be noted that symptoms may be different for each person. And it might include:

• Your child may visibly experience a deformed or out-of-place shoulder.
• Swelling or bruising is also very common.
• The occurrence of intense pain and inability to move the joint.

Sometimes, numbness, weakness, or tingling near the injury is a sign that your child has dislocated his or her shoulder. The muscles in the shoulder might cause spasms, intense pain in the neck or down the arm, or create certain triggers in the area.

So, if your child is suffering from any of the mentioned symptoms, it’s necessary to seek professional help as early as possible. Delaying the issue will lead to more complexities.

Complications

Complications in a dislocated shoulder involve:

• Major injuries and tearing of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons reinforce the shoulder joint.
• The blood or nerve vessels get damaged in or around the shoulder joint.
• If the injury is more severe, the area becomes more prone to repeat dislocations.

For repair and constant healing, the stretched or torn ligaments or tendons in the shoulder, damaged nerves, or blood vessels might need surgery for repair.

When To Visit A Doctor For Shoulder Dislocation?

It is necessary to seek medical help from a professional team for a shoulder that appears dislocated.

First and foremost, while waiting for medical attention, all you can do is:

• Keep your child’s shoulder from moving. Don’t move or force the shoulder back into its place. It damages the shoulder joint and its surrounding ligaments, muscles, nerves, or blood vessels.
• Icing the injured joint is also important. Applying ice or cold water baths helps reduce pain and swelling.

Diagnosis

A professional healthcare provider will take care of the affected area for swelling, tenderness, or deformity. If there’s a sign of nerve or blood vessel injury, they might suggest an X-ray of the shoulder joint. An X-ray reveals the possibility of broken bones, dislocation, or other causes of damage to the shoulder joint.

Dislocated Shoulder Treatment

The treatment for a dislocated shoulder involves:

• Closed Reduction

In this procedure, some gentle activities help move the shoulder bones back into position. Before moving the shoulder bones, a muscle relaxant, a sedative, or a general anesthetic might be provided, depending on the amount of pain and swelling. Once the shoulder bones get back in place, severe pain improves immediately.

• Surgery

Surgery is helpful for those with weak shoulder joints or ligaments. Despite strengthening and rehabilitation, surgery also helps with repeated shoulder dislocations. Sometimes, damaged nerves or blood vessels also require surgery.

• Immobilization

Wearing a special splint or sling becomes important after closed reduction. It prevents movement in the joints while it heals.

• Proper Medication

Your doctor may recommend that your child take a pain reliever or a muscle relaxant for healing and comfort.

• Recovery

The recovery process for a child with a shoulder dislocation involves a period of rest, followed by rehabilitation exercises to regain strength and range of motion. The doctor or a physical therapist will provide guidance on specific exercises and activities to support the healing process. The timeline for returning to normal activities, including sports, will vary depending on the severity of the injury and the child’s progress. It’s important for parents and the child to follow the recommended rehabilitation plan and attend follow-up appointments to monitor recovery.

After the shoulder is put back in place by a healthcare provider, your child may need to wear a sling or brace to minimize movement and protect the joint during the early stages of healing. This immobilization period allows the ligaments, muscles, and tendons around the shoulder to begin the repair process. As the initial pain and swelling subside, a gradual introduction of exercise and physiotherapy will help restore the shoulder’s normal strength and mobility. Parents can support recovery at home by encouraging rest and following the treatment plan provided by their healthcare team.

If the shoulder keeps coming out of place or if your child experiences repeat dislocations, surgical intervention may be considered. Surgery can strengthen the joint and help prevent future dislocations, especially if there are associated injuries such as torn ligaments or damaged nerves.

• Rehabilitation

A rehabilitation program helps restore the range of motion when the requirement of a splint or sling is no longer necessary. It helps restore the range of motion, stability, and strength of the shoulder joint.

It takes over a few weeks for a simple shoulder dislocation without major nerve or tissue damage to fully recover. Without a doubt, proper rest and regained strength are necessary before returning to regular activities. Resuming activity too early after shoulder dislocation can cause re-injury of the shoulder joint.

Lifestyle After Shoulder Dislocation

To help, try these steps to ease discomfort and encourage healing:

• Give rest to your child’s shoulder

Repeating the specific action continuously can dislocate a shoulder. Your child must avoid painful movements as well. Limit heavy lifting or overhead activity until your child’s shoulder starts to feel better.

• Apply ice, then heat.

You can reduce inflammation and pain by putting ice on your child’s shoulder. Use a cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Repeat this every couple of hours in the first day or two.

• Control the range of motion of the shoulder.r

After one or two days, the health care providers might recommend some gentle exercises to maintain the shoulder’s motion. Keeping your joints completely at rest or being inactive stiffens the joints.

Once the injury heals and the shoulder has a good range of motion, your child should keep exercising daily. Regular shoulder stretches and strengthening exercises might prevent another dislocation. Our professional healthcare providers will help you plan an appropriate exercise routine.
If your doctor gave your child specific exercises to do at home, help your child follow them exactly as instructed. Consistent, proper practice is important for recovery and building up shoulder strength. Sticking to the routine prescribed by your healthcare provider not only supports healing but also reduces the chance of future injuries.

Risk Factors

To be honest, anyone can dislocate a shoulder at any time. However, this is common in people in their teens and 20s, especially athletes involved in contact sports.

Prevention of Shoulder Dislocation

Prevention is the cure. So, to help prevent a dislocated shoulder, you can opt for the following options:

• You must avoid falls and other possible shoulder injuries.
• Wearing protective gear is important while playing contact sports.
• Start exercising regularly to maintain strength and flexibility in joints and muscles.

The risk of future shoulder dislocations rapidly increases with an existing dislocated shoulder. To help avoid a recurrence, it’s better to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. Follow the prescribed strength and stability exercises provided by your health specialists.

Bottom Line

The recovery process for a child with a shoulder dislocation involves a period of rest, followed by rehabilitation exercises to regain strength and range of motion. The doctor or a physical therapist will provide guidance on specific exercises and activities to support the healing process. The timeline for returning to normal activities, including sports, will vary depending on the severity of the injury and the child’s progress. It’s important for parents and the child to follow the recommended rehabilitation plan and attend follow-up appointments to monitor recovery.

After the shoulder is put back in place by a healthcare provider, your child may need to wear a sling or brace to minimize movement and protect the joint during the early stages of healing. This immobilization period allows the ligaments, muscles, and tendons around the shoulder to begin the repair process. As the initial pain and swelling subside, a gradual introduction of exercise and physiotherapy will help restore the shoulder’s normal strength and mobility. Parents can support recovery at home by encouraging rest and following the treatment plan provided by their healthcare team.

If the shoulder keeps coming out of place or if your child experiences repeat dislocations, surgical intervention may be considered. Surgery can strengthen the joint and help prevent future dislocations, especially if there are associated injuries such as torn ligaments or damaged nerves.

Parents should seek guidance from their child’s healthcare provider for specific information tailored to the individual case. Early intervention, adherence to the recommended treatment plan, and ongoing communication with healthcare professionals are crucial for ensuring the best possible outcome for a child with a shoulder dislocation.

Why You Should Choose the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists Practice

The doctors at the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists Practice only treat children. As such, our doctors have become experts in children and adolescents and their bodies and dislocations. We urge parents to bring their children to us to ensure proper treatment and healing.

Contact the doctor immediately for any swelling or pain in your child’s arm, shoulder, or hand that worsens over time, or if the arm or hand turns purple. If your child has a fever, it’s another warning sign. However, after every treatment, if the injury does not heal as expected, we want you to call the doctor and have him examine the condition. The doctors at the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists Practice only treat children. As such, our doctors have become experts in children and adolescents and their bodies and dislocations. We urge parents to bring their children to us to ensure proper treatment and healing.

When to Seek Emergency Care

If you ever feel your child needs emergency attention, don’t hesitate—call 911 right away. Some urgent warning signs include:

• Trouble breathing (such as using belly muscles to breathe, chest sinking in, or nostrils flaring)
• Severe sleepiness or difficulty waking your child
• Your child passes out or loses consciousness

Other Signs to Watch For

Contact your doctor or seek immediate medical care if you notice any of the following:

• New or worsening nausea or vomiting
• Increased or severe pain
• Your child’s hand or fingers are becoming cool, pale, or changing color
• Tingling, weakness, or numbness in the hand or fingers

Always trust your instincts—if something doesn’t seem right, it’s better to be safe and get your child checked by a healthcare professional.

Selecting a pediatric orthopedic doctor for your child is a crucial decision that requires careful consideration. By seeking recommendations, researching credentials, assessing hospital affiliations, reviewing patient testimonials, evaluating communication and bedside manner, considering the supportive team, discussing treatment options, seeking second opinions, prioritizing accessibility, and trusting your instincts, you can make an informed choice.

Remember, finding the right orthopedic doctor will ensure that your child receives the best possible care, leading to optimal outcomes and a healthier, happier future. The Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists doctors only treat children.  With offices in Arlington, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, and McKinney, Texas, Doctors Shyam Kishan, Richard Hostin, and Kathryn Wiesman have spent years studying children’s health and have devoted their lives to treating them.

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Footnote:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Shoulder Dislocation