Patient Information Handout Shoulder Dislocations and Instability What is Shoulder Dislocations and Instability: After a fall or twisting injury the shoulder can dislocate either completely or partially (subluxations). These tears occurs because of a tear in the capsule that can result in more dislocations with even every day activities or with the apprehension that the shoulder is unstable with even routine activities. Symptoms: Figure 1 ♦ Often the patients with shoulder instability are pain free at rest but even minor activities result in the uneasy feeling that the shoulder can or will dislocate. ♦ Any motion that places the hand or arm behind your head can produce the same sense of instability. Anatomy: ♦ The shoulder is stabilized by a balance of muscles plus a thick capsule that is call the labrum when it attaches to the bone of the glenoid that forms the socket of this modified ball and socket type of joint (Figure 1). The ligament detachment from the glenoid is called a Bankart lesion. Who has Shoulder Instability? ♦ Shoulder dislocations can occur after a fall or during sports injuries. ♦ Some sports with a great deal of shoulder motion and stress such as weight lifting a or swimming can produce shoulder instability without a specific injury How do we diagnose Shoulder Instability? Patient Information Handout ♦ On clinical exam the patients demonstrate a positive ‘apprehension test’ where the motion of reaching behind the head or a throwing motion produces the sensation that the shoulder could become unstable. ♦ X-‐rays are frequently negative but MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an excellent test to identify Bankart tears where the capsule is seen to separate from the bone. Figure 2 How do we treat Shoulder Instability? ♦ After a single episode, therapy to strengthen the muscles can often allow many patients to return to full function. ♦ After several dislocations or in patinets who still have clinical signs of instabilty ofter the rehabilitation following a single dislocation, arthroscopic surgery to reattach the torn labrum can be very successful in allowing individuals to return to all activities including rigorous activities such as contact sports. (Figure 2). Postoperative Course: ♦ The patients are seen by a physical therapist two to three days after surgery. After surgery, patients are placed in a splint or brace that prevents rotation of the shoulder that could stress the repair. They also begin a therapy program that works to increase range of motion without affecting the surgical repair. Although patients do regain most of their motion by three months, full recovery may not occur for over one year. ______________________ Thomas E. Trumble, M.D.