Dislocations/Instability

Dislocations/Instability – typically occurs in a younger age group, as a result of significant trauma such as a car accident, sport injury, or fall. The ball portion of the ball and socket joint is unstable in the socket with certain types of motion.

Some patients have ligamentous laxity ("loose joints" or "double-jointed") which makes this condition more likely. Signs/symptoms include severe pain and limited shoulder motion with acute dislocations, and pain, weakness, loss of shoulder strength with chronic instability.

Treatment

Treatment initially is to restore the normal ball and socket position of the shoulder joint, followed by rest and shoulder immobilization, physical therapy to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, and pain medicines/anti-inflammatory medicines.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is for persistent instability or pain and includes arthroscopic or open procedures to stabilize and repair the soft tissue structures that support the shoulder joint.