What Causes a Shoulder Dislocation?
Shoulder dislocations are prevalent because of the body’s ball and socket joint. If significant force impacts the area, the round ball in the upper arm will leave the socket blade.
Contact sport injuries are a common cause of shoulder dislocations. Such injuries may also occur due to car accidents involving sudden upper body movements and high impact.
These electric shocks and seizures cause sudden and rapid contractions. As a result, they can lead to shoulder dislocation if you don’t receive medical help quickly. Another common cause of this injury is falling on an outstretched arm.
What Causes an Elbow Dislocation?
Elbow dislocations often occur when someone tries to stop a fall by overstretching the arm. This reaction suddenly twists the upper and lower arms, displacing joint bones. In severe cases, the sudden movement can tear or displace ligaments that attach bones.
Traumatic injury resulting from a car crash or violence can lead to a complex elbow dislocation. Such an injury often includes muscle tears and bone fractures.
Overusing your elbow during physical activities or household chores can also lead to a dislocation. For example, the joint may lose stability if you regularly carry heavy objects. Fortunately, this can often get resolved through elbow dislocation physical therapy.
What Causes a Wrist Dislocation?
The wrist consists of carpals, which are eight small bones. Ligaments then hold the bones together, allowing a full range of movement. If a tear affects any of these ligaments, one or several carpal bones may move from their position, leading to dislocation.
Breaking a fall with the arm is a prevalent cause of wrist dislocation. You may also sustain the injury during sports like football, rugby, and gymnastics.
Other causes of wrist dislocations are:
- Strenuous activities, like walking with crutches for an extended period
- Disorders that weaken joints, like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Road crashes
- Perilunate wrist dislocation — A perilunate dislocation is the result of tremendous force that causes your wrist to bend backward. This usually occurs from falling on your outstretched hand, an injury, or a car accident.
- Transscaphoid perilunate dislocation — This is a common type of wrist dislocation that occurs along with a scaphoid wrist fracture. Treatment of all injuries is important.
Differences Between Dislocated Wrists and Wrist Sprains
While both are wrist injuries, there are differences between a dislocated wrist and a wrist sprain. A dislocated wrist is a more serious injury than a wrist sprain, and wrist sprains occur very easily.
Additionally, a dislocated wrist indicates that your bones are not aligned, whereas wrist sprains are considered to be ligament injuries.
If wrist sprains are severe enough, they can be treated by means of wrist arthroscopy. This procedure can also be used as a wrist dislocation treatment.
Symptoms of Dislocations
Joint dislocations are immediately detectable. For example, you may see a visibly protruding part. Still, extreme swelling can mask this symptom, so it is always best to consult a dislocation specialist.
Another way to identify a dislocation is extreme pain. While you may notice the symptom immediately, it can also be delayed due to a high adrenaline level, especially after sudden accidents.
Additional signs of dislocations include:
- Muscle spasms
- Joint instability
- Skin discoloration around the affected area
- Decreased range of motion
- Immobilization
- Tingling/numbing sensation on the affected part and surrounding muscle
- The skin around the area will swell, feel tender and appear inflamed
How Are Dislocations Treated?
To properly treat a dislocation, your specialist will conduct a physical examination of the affected joint, and X-rays may be taken to determine the extent of the dislocation.
The most common therapies for such injuries are manipulation and, in severe cases, surgery. Your doctor may also apply a splint to keep the affected part in place and reduce movement.
Manipulation involves repositioning the displaced parts. During this procedure, your dislocation expert may provide anesthesia to reduce pain.
They can also administer a sedative to relax the muscle and simplify treatment. In addition, specialists often use manipulation for minor dislocations that don’t damage the ligaments.
While many joint dislocations aren’t severe and don’t have lasting complications, you may need surgery if the issue involves a fracture or tendon and ligament damage. The surgery and recovery process may be extensive.
Additional methods your specialist may advise to aid in dislocation treatment include:
Get Professional Dislocation Treatment
Consulting a dislocation specialist can prevent chronic pain and adverse health issues like a permanent deformity. It also reduces pain and discomfort, allowing you to resume everyday life faster.
At Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, we offer professional treatment for arm, wrist, and shoulder dislocations.
Our specialist will assess your condition to identify suitable treatment methods. They will then provide personalized therapy and recommend exercises to restore motion.
Call Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow now if you need dislocation treatment in Marieta and Atlanta, GA.
