Dislocated Shoulder in Kids and Teens

What is it?

A dislocated shoulder, also known as shoulder instability, is a condition in which the humeral head (ball) comes out of the glenoid (socket). The shoulder is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body. It usually occurs during contact sports such as football, basketball, wrestling and hockey. It can also dislocate from a fall in sports like skiing.

Most commonly, the ball dislocates to the front of the socket (anterior dislocation). Less than 5% of all dislocations occur in other directions.

Why come to Children's Hospital Colorado for treatment of this condition?

Children’s has the only sports medicine program in Colorado that is focused solely on caring for young athletes.  Our team of sports medicine experts understand the demands that sports programs place on school-aged athletes and the importance of customized, age-appropriate care. Since many young athletes are still growing, they need special kid and teen-specific treatment that takes this into consideration.

Our pediatric specialists are fellowship-trained in sports medicine, giving them the focused expertise that makes Children's Hospital Colorado the best choice for young athletes looking to maximize performance after recovering from a sports injury.

What are the signs and symptoms?

When a shoulder dislocation occurs, there is immediate pain and loss of use of the arm. Many people report that their arm feels numb. There is usually a visible deformity of the shoulder and there may be a prominence in the front of the shoulder. Patients with a dislocated shoulder (shoulder instability) generally hold their arm at their side and it is very uncomfortable to move the arm away from the body.

How do you diagnose it?

Many medical professionals can diagnose a dislocated shoulder just by looking at the shoulder. If there is any doubt, x-rays provide the definitive diagnosis.

How do we treat it?

The initial treatment for a shoulder dislocation is reduction, which entails putting the ball back into the socket. Many times, medical professionals can do this right after it happens, even on the field. Other times, the dislocation is more difficult and the patient must go to the emergency room for medications to relax the muscles before the shoulder can be put back into place.

After the shoulder is put back in place, it is generally immobilized in a sling for a short period of time, followed by physical therapy.

In some cases, ligament repair in the shoulder is needed, which is usually done arthroscopically - through several small incisions, using a camera to see inside the joint. This technique allows for decreased pain and faster return of shoulder motion.

Who gets it, and can it be prevented?

The most commonly affected athletes are male adolescents involved in contact sports. Shoulder dislocation is difficult to prevent. Proper technique and training are the best prevention.

Adolescents suffering a first-time shoulder dislocation are at high risk for dislocating again, even with proper initial treatment. The reason for this is that when the shoulder dislocates, it can tear some of the ligaments and the labrum that function to stabilize the joint. This is called a Bankart lesion.

Some athletes are at very high risk for a second dislocation. In these individuals and in patients who have dislocated a second time, surgical repair of the Bankart lesion provides the best chance at stopping future dislocations.