Your shoulder can dislocate as a result of a traumatic fall or a hard hit during athletics, but did you know that there are different types of shoulder dislocations? There is the anterior shoulder dislocation, where the humerus moves forward out of the shoulder socket, and there’s the posterior shoulder dislocation, where the humerus moves backward out of the socket. The posterior dislocation is much less common than the anterior dislocation, but we want to make the less common version of the shoulder dislocation the focus of today’s blog. Below, we take a closer look at why this type of dislocation develops and how Dr. Holloway can help you treat it.
Causes And Symptoms Of Posterior Shoulder Dislocation
Posterior shoulder dislocations are not all that common, but shoulder dislocations are quite common. In fact, shoulder dislocations make up about half of all joint dislocations that require medical care. That said, about 95 percent of these shoulder dislocations are anterior in nature. So what is so unique about a posterior shoulder dislocation?
Given the makeup of the ball and socket joint, it is much easier for your humeral head to shift forward out of place than it is to shift backwards. If you fall to the ground and try to brace yourself with your arm, it’s much more likely that if a dislocation occurs, it’s because the humeral head juts forward out of the socket. Posterior dislocations are more likely to occur when there is direct trauma to the front of the shoulder or you experience violent bodily contractions. Because of this, some of the more common causes of a posterior dislocation include car accidents, seizures and electrocution injuries.
Although you may not know that you are specifically dealing with a posterior shoulder dislocation, it will be evident that something is wrong with your shoulder. Some of the most common symptoms associated with a posterior dislocation include:
- Severe shoulder pain
- Inhibited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially after incurring direct trauma to the shoulder area, it’s time to seek out medical assistance.
Diagnosing And Treating Posterior Shoulder Dislocations
Believe it or not, posterior dislocations can be somewhat hard to diagnose. Because they are rare and the dislocation is much less obvious on imaging exams than an anterior shoulder dislocation, they can sometimes be missed or not taken as seriously. It’s important to trust your care to an experienced shoulder specialist with an extensive understanding of posterior dislocations if you want to increase your odds of a correct diagnosis and getting set up with the right treatment plan. Patient history, a discussion of the event that led to the injury, a physical exam and imaging tests can all help a provider hone in on a posterior dislocation diagnosis.
If you are indeed suffering from a posterior shoulder dislocation, your shoulder specialist will work to reset the bone into the proper location. Since this process can be more uncomfortable than resetting an anterior dislocation, the patient may be given lidocaine or bupivacaine injections to manage discomfort ahead of the reduction technique. Your specialist will have a few different methods for getting the humeral head back in the proper location, and you’ll know that your shoulder is reset when you feel a click or a clunk that signifies the humeral head is back within the socket. Although you won’t be free from discomfort, pain relief is oftentimes quite intense, and you’ll also notice regained movement and mobility with your shoulder, arm and hand.
Once the joint has been reset, your doctor will take imaging tests to look for evidence of soft tissue damage or fractures to the humeral head or the shoulder socket. Assuming none of that is present, your shoulder will be set in a brace or sling, which you’ll wear for a number of weeks while the shoulder damage heals. You will eventually begin physical therapy exercises to strengthen the shoulder joint and the supportive soft tissues to reduce your likelihood of another dislocation in the future.
In rare instances where the posterior dislocation cannot be reset or there is significant damage to the area after it’s been reset, a minimally invasive procedure may be ordered to address these issues. After surgery, a similar care plan will be followed, with the patient being placed in a shoulder sling for a number of weeks before beginning physical therapy.
For more information about posterior shoulder dislocations, or to talk to a shoulder specialist about a different shoulder issue you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
