Featuring Dr. Larissa Roux, MD, MPH, PhD, CCFP, Dip Sport Med

Duration: 1 minute

A shoulder dislocation refers simply to the dislocation of the arm bone or humeris from its socket or its normal place. Shoulder dislocations are the most common kind of dislocation in the body, and our our shoulders sacrifice stability at the expense of being very mobile joints.

Generally it will require pain medication, muscle relaxants and to be safe, X-ray imaging to ensure that there's no associated injury. Immediately following that, patients will have to have their shoulder immobilized and the normal protocol of rest, ice compression would follow.

In the case of traumatic shoulder dislocation, particularly in athletes who engage in contact sports, a referral to an orthopedic surgeon is certainly indicated as surgery may be required to prevent reinjury. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact your local physician or primary care sports medicine physician.

If you have questions about shoulder dislocation, contact a local sports medicine physician.

Presenter: Dr. Larissa Roux, Sports Medicine Physician, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Sports Medicine Physician