Shoulder Surgeon Perth for dislocated shoulder

Dislocated Shoulder

“The shoulder that pops out” or “The popping shoulder”

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

About a dislocated shoulder

A dislocated shoulder is a common injury. Your shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in your body and allows the arm to move in many directions during everyday life. Due to this incredible flexibility, your shoulder joint is at risk of becoming unstable.

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

What is a dislocated shoulder?

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon PerthA dislocated shoulder occurs when the ball of the shoulder joint is forced out of its socket. This dislocation may tear the shoulder capsule, known as a labral tear.

The shoulder can dislocate both forwards and backwards. Generally speaking, most shoulder dislocations are anterior dislocations. This means that the ball is forced out the front of the socket.

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

CO.RE Exercises

CO.RE Exercises | shoulder surgeon PerthIn the field of shoulder and knee reconstruction, successful outcomes from an operation are 50% surgery and 50% rehabilitation. You could say the surgery is the easy bit, the rehabilitation is all hard slog.

Dr Colvin’s CO.RE exercise programs are just that, a core plan for your successful recovery.

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

How does a dislocated shoulder occur?

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon PerthShoulder dislocations occur in two situations:

  • A traumatic dislocation occurs with high force from a fall or sporting injury. This usually causes a labral tear.
  • Some patients experience shoulder dislocation with minimal force. That’s because their joints are very loose. They may experience shoulder dislocation or shoulder subluxation. That is where the ball slips partially out of the socket but is not a complete shoulder dislocation

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

What is the treatment for a dislocated shoulder?

In some cases a dislocated shoulder will pop back into the joint spontaneously. You may feel it go back in with a ‘clunk’.

If the shoulder remains dislocated then it is put back into place in the hospital emergency department with sedation and manipulation. Once it is back in place x-rays are taken to confirm that the shoulder dislocation has been reduced. X-rays may reveal a fracture at the ball of the shoulder (Hill Sach’s fracture) or an injury to the front of the socket (Bankart fracture).

Tearing of the shoulder capsule (labral tear) is diagnosed with an MRI scan.

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

Is surgery required for a dislocated shoulder?

Surgery is not always recommended after your first shoulder dislocation. However, if it comes out a second time then it will almost certainly be an ongoing problem and we would usually recommend surgery in that situation. The unusual thing about shoulder dislocation is that the younger you are, the more likely it is to keep dislocating. For that reason, in young patients who are involved in contact sports or have a high demand job we may consider surgery even after one dislocation. Surgery for a dislocated shoulder is either arthroscopic labral repair or open stabilisation called a Latarjet procedure. After any shoulder dislocation review by an orthopaedic surgeon is strongly recommended. To book your appointment please call Perth shoulder surgeon Dr Colvin on 08 9489 8788.

dislocated shoulder | shoulder surgeon Perth

Related topics

Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilisation is a minimally invasive operation. It allows Dr Colvin to correct instability of the shoulder joint. The procedure is also called arthroscopic labral repair and is performed to stop the ball of the shoulder joint from coming out of its socket. It’s performed as keyhole surgery to treat shoulder dislocation.
The Latarjet procedure is a brilliant improvement on an operation that has been around for half a century. It is an operation to stabilise your shoulder and prevent shoulder dislocation. It involves taking a bone graft from the front of the shoulder blade and attaching it to the front of your shoulder joint socket.
The shoulder can be overtly unstable and dislocate as a single episode or repeatedly. Less obvious is shoulder subluxation where the ball is loose within the socket but does not actually dislocate.

Orthopaedic surgeon Perth

About Perth Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr David Colvin

Dr David Colvin, a Perth orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in shoulder and knee injuries, understands that a painful joint or a joint that doesn’t function properly, can have a huge impact on your quality of life.