Question 1

What is a shoulder dislocation?

Accepted Answer

A shoulder dislocation occurs when the ball at the top of your upper arm bone (humeral head) comes completely out of the shoulder socket (glenoid). The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated major joint in the body because it's very mobile (moves in multiple directions) but this makes it less stable. In 95% of cases, the humeral head dislocates forward and downward (anterior dislocation) when your arm is forced backward and outward - common in falls, sports tackles, or collisions. Rare posterior dislocations (5%) occur with seizures or electric shocks. A dislocation almost always tears the labrum (cartilage rim around socket) and stretches the capsule, creating risk of recurrent dislocations.

Question 2

What are the chances my shoulder will dislocate again?

Accepted Answer

Re-dislocation risk depends critically on your age at first dislocation: Age <20 years: 80-90% will re-dislocate if treated non-surgically. Age 20-30: 50-60% re-dislocation rate. Age 30-40: 30-40% re-dislocation rate. Age >40: 10-20% re-dislocation rate. Other factors increasing risk: contact sports, male gender, high-demand activities, delay in starting physiotherapy. With arthroscopic Bankart repair surgery: 5-15% re-dislocation rate across all ages. This is why many surgeons recommend surgery for first-time dislocations in young athletes under 25 - to prevent the cycle of recurrent dislocations and progressive damage.

Question 3

Should I have surgery after my first dislocation?

Accepted Answer

Controversial and depends on your age, activity level, and goals. Arguments FOR surgery after first dislocation: If you're under 25, play contact sports, and want to minimize recurrence risk, surgery reduces re-dislocation from 70-90% to 5-15%. Each subsequent dislocation causes more damage (bone loss), making eventual surgery more difficult with lower success. One surgery now vs multiple dislocations and possible complicated revision surgery later. Arguments AGAINST immediate surgery: Not everyone re-dislocates. Surgery has risks and long recovery (6-9 months off sport). Older patients (>40) have low recurrence risk (10-20%) so surgery often not needed. Discuss with surgeon - trend is moving toward offering surgery to young, active patients after first dislocation.

Question 4

What is a Bankart lesion and Hill-Sachs lesion?

Accepted Answer

These are the injuries that occur when your shoulder dislocates. Bankart lesion: The labrum (cartilage bumper around socket) tears off the front of the glenoid bone. Occurs in 90%+ of first-time dislocations. This damage creates shoulder instability and allows easier re-dislocation. Bankart repair surgery reattaches the labrum using anchors. Hill-Sachs lesion: When the ball dislocates forward, the back of the humeral head (ball) gets dented by impacting the front edge of the socket. Like a dent in a golf ball. Occurs in 40-90% of dislocations. Small Hill-Sachs lesions don't need treatment. Large lesions (engaging lesions) may need additional procedures. These lesions don't heal on their own.

Question 5

Can I relocate my shoulder myself if it dislocates?

Accepted Answer

Strongly discouraged. While some people with recurrent dislocations learn to self-reduce, attempting this without experience can: cause fractures (especially if there's an associated fracture you don't know about), cause nerve injury, cause additional soft tissue damage, delay proper medical assessment. If your shoulder dislocates for the first time, go to emergency department for proper X-rays before and after reduction, sedation for pain-free reduction, and checking for associated injuries. If you have recurrent dislocations that easily relocate with minimal force, discuss with your surgeon - you almost certainly need surgical stabilization rather than continuing to self-reduce repeatedly.

Medical Disclaimer

Dislocated Shoulder

📖What is Dislocated Shoulder?

🔬What Causes It?

⚠️Risk Factors

You may be at higher risk if:

🛡️Prevention