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Dislocated Shoulder and Shoulder Instability
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Sport: Football Residences: Injury: Surgery: |
When athletes suffer a blow directly to the shoulder, or when someone suffers trauma to the shoulder area either from a fall or an accident, shoulder instability can result. Instability can be a frustrating condition afflicting the patient until the condition is properly diagnosed and treated. Patients with shoulder instability will often complain about an uncomfortable sensation that their shoulder is about to "pop" or "slide" out of place. Sometimes it is more subtle however and pain may be the only manifestation of the condition. This condition usually affects the following distinct groups of patients:
- Patients who have had prior shoulder dislocations: Those patients who have had prior shoulder dislocations will often experience future dislocations, or recurrent instability. Age does play a crucial role in recurrent dislocations. When younger patients (35 years of age or younger) sustain a traumatic dislocation (from an injury), shoulder instability will follow in the vast majority of patients. In very young patients, those less than 20, the risk of suffering a second dislocation is almost 100 percent! On the other hand, older people (40 years of age and older) who experiences a traumatic dislocation will only have a 10% chance of developing chronic instability in future years, but they have an increasing risk of tearing the rotator cuff when the shoulder dislocates and that injury in of itself may need treatment.
- Athletes: Athletes who participate in overhead activities such as basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and tennis may have continuing symptoms of a loose shoulder or experience multidirectional instability (slipping or dislocating in more than one direction). This is a condition that develops from loose ligaments and a stretched shoulder capsule. While a complete dislocation may not occur, it causes pain, weakness, and diminished function such that it may prevent athletes from playing their sports.
- Genetic causes: Some patients are born with double-joints or have connective tissue disorders that may lead to loose shoulder joints. This can lead to shoulder instability and dislocations.
Symptoms
- Extreme pain in the shoulder region
- Apprehension (fear that the shoulder will come out)
- Restricted motion
- Popping or a sliding sensation
- Unusual shoulder position—for example, the shoulder may hang down and forward and appear "limp"
When a shoulder dislocation occurs, some individuals are experienced and might be able to "pop" their shoulder back into place (called a reduction). This is a very painful situation to be in and many times a visit to the ER will be required to return the dislocated arm back to its socket.
Once a shoulder reduction has been performed, Dr. Millett will be able to determine the exact cause and root of the shoulder instability and the risk of recurrent dislocations with his physical examination and routine X-rays. Some times the X-ray might show a "bony Bankart" which is a fracture of the front, lower portion of the shoulder socket that occurs after a dislocation. This fracture—which is the most common cause of recurrent instability for young adults after an injury—indicates that the ligaments in the front of the shoulder are no longer attached to the glenoid. Another common finding is a Hill Sachs fracture, which is an indentation or impression fracture on the ball of the upper arm (proximal humersu) that occurs when it impacts the socket during the dislocation. These findings are frequently only part of the problem and additional tests such as an MRI are usually required to fully determine the extent of the damage.
Treatment
Non-Surgical
Often times, patients who suffer from shoulder instability and shoulder dislocations can begin a structured shoulder physical therapy rehabilitation program using exercises to help strengthen the shoulder joint. Physical therapy with ongoing strengthening moves will often help maintain the shoulder in proper position. Athletes typically benefit the most from physical therapy for shoulder instability. Cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications are also used to help treat the condition and minimize pain.
Surgical
There are surgical options for shoulder instability if therapy is not an option, or if it fails. Depending on the cause of the instability, arthroscopic surgery is the most preferred option. Dr. Millett also performs open treatment for instability.
Bankart-Capsulolabral Reconstruction
A Bankart-type capsulolabral repair surgery is the most common surgery performed on patients with chronic instability who opt to have surgery. This procedure can be as an open procedure but Dr. Millett usually performs it arthroscopically (which is the preferred method). This is among the most frequent types of surgery that Dr. Millett performs. If the shoulder instability is chronic and is in the setting of 'end-stage' instability, then there are options such as bone grafting procedures and soft tissue grafting procedures which can be used to restore stability to the shoulder joint. Capsulolabral reconstruction is one technique that Dr. Millett has helped develop. This is a technique in which a transplanted tendon (from another part of the body or from a cadaver) is used to make new ligaments (capsule) and cartilage (labrum), which then act to prevent dislocation and stabilize the chronically unstable shoulder.
