ball being the arm bone and the tee being the glenoid ( part of the scapula , aka shoulder blade ). That ’ s how unstable the joint can be .

BONE TO PICK

The upper limb is a fancy way of referring to the body parts from the shoulder to the fingers . The scapula or the shoulder blade , connects the arm to the body . This connection occurs via the shoulder joint .

This connection ( or lack of ) between the upper limb and the torso is a double-edged sword . On the one hand , it offers a fantastic shoulder joint range of motion . It makes the shoulder joint perhaps the most mobile in all different planes and directions .

On the other side of the sword , these features make the shoulder joint potentially unstable and the most dislocated joint in the body . The shoulder most commonly dislocates anteriorly ( to the front ) but can also dislocate backwards and downwards .

In one of my earlier articles ( doing the Macarena ), I spoke in depth about the anatomy of the shoulder joint . I will describe it briefly this time . The shoulder is a ball and socket joint . Imagine a golf ball sitting on a tee , the

DIAGNOSING SHOULDER DISLOCATIONS

However , that ’ s just the bony part . Ligaments and muscles around the shoulder also contribute significantly towards keeping the shoulder in place . Traumatic shoulder dislocation tends to occur in patients around the age of 20 , usually due to a sporting injury or an accident . The younger the patient is at the time of the first dislocation , the worst the prognosis is , as these dislocations will tend to recur . The more times it happens , the easier it will become for the dislocation to occur .

Some patients even become “ used to ” their shoulders popping out that they can even pop it right back in .

During each episode of dislocation , there will be an injury to the bony structures or soft tissue , stabilising the joint . So , the more times it happens , the more damage occurs , too , thus weakening the structures that once kept the shoulder stable . It leads to the shoulder joint popping in and out more easily in cases of recurrent dislocation .

Shoulder dislocations can be diagnosed just by assessing a patient . X-rays are still routinely done to confirm the diagnosis . Once a dislocated shoulder is detected , prompt reduction of the joint is of utmost importance . Further imaging studies like MRI and CT scans may be necessary , especially in athletes and those with multiple dislocations .

These further imaging will give the treating doctor important information on possible injury to the bony structures of the shoulder as well as the soft tissue like the labrum ( which is a piece of tissue connected to the glenoid ), ligaments and tendons .

DETERMINING THE TYPE OF SURGERY

Surgical treatment may be necessary for athletes , especially those involved in contact and collision sports and patients with multiple dislocations .

As mentioned above , bony or soft tissue components to the shoulder

could occur after a dislocation . The type of surgery your doctor recommends will be determined by this and the level of sporting activity .

In patients with an injury to the labrum , the labrum peels away from where it ’ s supposed to be on the face of the glenoid . Patients can be treated with arthroscopic ( keyhole ) surgery in such cases .

In this procedure , the labrum will be anchored back to its original position . It will recreate the “ bump ” effect that will help in preventing the shoulder from dislocating .

When significant bony injury is present , the surgery has to involve

bony work as well . Often , open surgery is needed to address these skeletal defects . A piece of bone is taken from elsewhere in the body to patch up the flaw . It will , in turn , lead to better joint stability as there will be better bone contact between the humerus head and the glenoid .

So , the next time you stroll down the park and notice your hands swinging by your sides , take a second to appreciate the joint that holds it all in place . Because if it ’ s not for the structures in the shoulder joint keeping everything tight in its place , many things might be left to hang loose . – The Health