Question - Dislocated Shoulder

by John Warren
(Phoenix, AZ.)

My son recently dislocated his shoulder during football practice.
He is a sophomore with 2 years left and the season is over. At the time of the injury we were aware of the seriousness of a shoulder dislocation and possible re-occurance %'s being so high.

The x-rays from the hospital showed no ligament or cartilage damage but, what I recently have read they would be hard to see and an MRI should have been performed to accurately determine if anything was torn. If the ligaments are torn will they heal themselves with a therapy program? Is arthroscopic repair the only solution?

Thanks
John

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Question - Dislocated Shoulder

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Oct 31, 2008
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shoulder ligament damage
by: Bart - SII

You are correct, an X-ray will likely not show any type of ligament or cartilage damage, only disruptions in the bone.

If he suffered a dislocation, then he has ligament and possibly cartilage damage. It is virtually impossible to dislocate without damaging the ligaments (unless he had chronically unstable shoulders to begin with).

Dislocations often produce tearing of the anterior/inferior capsule of the shoulder, as well as the anterior/inferior portion of the glenoid labrum (a bankart tear). If handled correctly, capsule/ligament damage can heal after a first time dislocation, and with proper protection during healing, and a comprehensive strengthening program that focuses on the scapular stabilizers and functional stability of the shoulder, you can avoid surgery.

However, the recurrence rate for shoulder dislocations is high, especially if he returns to contact or collision sports like football. This is especially true if he has a labral pathology, as they generally do not heal with conservative treatment and can contribute significantly to shoulder instability.

I would recommend following up with an orthopedist for further diagnostics, an MRI Arthrogram, and to explore your treatment options.

Bart

Nov 01, 2008
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dislocated shoulder
by: John Warren

Upon a dislocated shoulder most of the time the inferior glenohumeral ligament is torn, will it repair itself over time and with therapy?
Thanks
John