SHOULDER DISLOCATION / INSTABILITY

A shoulder dislocation is the result of a significant injury to the shoulder such that the “headball” slips out of the “socket”.  Shoulder dislocations can result in an injury to the shoulder labrum (the cartilage bumper that surrounds the “socket” portion of the shoulder joint) in younger patients or the rotator cuff in older patients.

[Learn more about shoulder dislocation from eOrthopod]

An injury to the shoulder labrum can result in shoulder pain, the shoulder feeling unstable or recurrent episodes of shoulder dislocations.  Some labral tears can be managed without surgery.  However, surgical stabilization of a torn labrum in young, active patients with shoulder instability results in a significantly lower rate of recurrent shoulder dislocation when compared to non-surgical management.