Like any other dislocation acute dislocations of the glenohumeral  or shoulder joint should be reduced as quickly and gently as possible. There are many advantages of early reduction of shoulder dislocation.

• Eliminates the stretch and compression of neurovascular structures
• Reduces amount of muscle spasm that must be overcome to effect reduction
• Prevents further insult to  humeral head  and glenoid labrum

If patient reports within short time, some dislocations can be reduced without medication especially in thinly built patients. Reduction is difficult without medications if patient is very muscular , dislocation is of a long standing duration, the dislocation is locked in soft tissue. [Read more...]