The dislocation of the shoulder requires a sufficient amount of trauma to occur. The same trauma can cause injury to structures around the shoulder joint and lead to immediate and long term complications
Bony Complications
- Fractures of the humeral head
- fractures of the anterior glenoid lip
- fractures of the greater tuberosity
- fractures of the acromion or coracoid process
Fracture of humeral head is called Hill Sachs lesion.
Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator cuff tears are common and their incidence increases with age. Thsese generally present as pain and weakness in shoulder especially on abduction and external rotation.
Neural and Vascular Injuries
- Injury to brachial plexus
- Injury to axillary artery
Recurrence of Dislocation
Recurrent dislocation is the most common complication that follows an acute traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in young patients. Younger patients have higher risk of redislocation. Recurrences are more common in men than in women. Immobilization of initial dislocation has little impact on risk of dislocation but some studie have suggested that risk is almost doubled it immobilization is for less than 3 weeks.
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