Surgery for Shoulder Dislocation

The shoulder dislocation happens when head of the humerus is out of shoulder joint. There are some symptoms include shoulder pain, instability.

Mostly there are two types of surgeries which are used:

  1. Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery:

The surgery for dislocated shoulder is required to tight the torn or stretch ligaments. The surgeon may also repair the torn labrum, the ring of cartilage which surrounds the shoulder socket and stabilize the humerus. To aim of surgery is to repair these tissues.

An arthroscopic surgery is performed by using an arthroscope, which is inserted  in the joint through a small cut. It contain a video camera and a light at one end. After getting to the position small surgical instruments are inserted and then re position the torn ligament on bone is done.

It is usually performed using general anesthesia. The surgeons also use an injection called as nerve block. A nerve block provide 10 to 12 hours of pain relief.

  1. Open Shoulder Surgery:
    The open surgery means that the doctor/surgeon operate the joint from a single cut made above the shoulder joint, instead of having various small cuts. The doctor perform the open surgery to repair injured ligaments.

To repair the bone loss in glenoid socket caused by the repeated injury, the doctor take a piece of living bone, called as bone graft, from other part of body and shape it to fit the rim of glenoid to create deeper socket. The bone  graft fuses with the shoulder socket to form a solid bone.

Recovery

The physical therapy is the most important part for the full recovery of shoulder injury. The physical therapist work with you to build strength, improve flexibility. During the first few weeks the therapist provide massage to reduce the pain and swelling. After sometime the therapist starts some exercise for the muscles in shoulder , arms and back. To restore the strength in these muscles. The therapy continues for a long time before the shoulder is fully recovered.