Shoulder Joint Dislocation – Part Two
The conservative treatment of dislocations of the shoulder is a controversial matter in orthopaedics, with management in a sling for anything from one to six weeks. An immobilising strap may be applied around the waist but this is not universal. The arm is kept in to the side with the forearm across the abdomen (officially internal rotation and adduction) to prevent stresses to the injured areas, avoiding arm away from the body and moving it outwards (officially external rotation and abduction).
Recent studies of dislocation in the scientific literature have shown some clues as to how these injuries should be managed. One study involved MRI scanning to show that the relationship between the rim of the socket and the socket itself is best maintained by placing the arm by the side and rotating it laterally 35 degrees. A cadaveric study of shoulders showed that keeping the arm in slight adduction close to the body allowed a reasonable range of motion without disrupting the close approximation of the structures. Lifting the arm up forwards or out to the side (flexion and abduction) disturbed this relationship.
The time of immobilisation is not one of general agreement with three or four weeks in a sling typically prescribed for younger people and shorter periods for older people. A longer period of immobilisation was shown in one study to significantly lower the rates of recurrent dislocation. Another study followed patient with shoulder dislocation for ten years and found no influence of the period of immobilisation on the rate of recurrent dislocation. After the patient is reviewed at the three week period they start their rehabilitation with the physiotherapists.
Initial exercises will include pendular exercises, chosen for their reduced joint stresses due to the patient being bent over and the arm hanging in a relaxed position. This keeps the shoulder joint moving without fear of overstressing the joint capsule. Scapular movements are also performed early so that the shoulder girdle remains mobile and functional. Active assisted movements are the next progression taught by the physiotherapist, allowing the range of movement to be increased whilst reducing joint stresses as the other shoulder contributes much of the force needed.
External rotation will initially be limited due to the re-dislocation risk and gradually allowed to increase as the weeks go on, but it is never pushed strongly and there may be an advantage to the patient if they lose some range of this movement. This may protect them from easily going into the risky and vulnerable dislocating position again. At six weeks much of the soft tissue healing will be well advanced and patients can start doing full active range of movement and strengthening exercises for the shoulder and shoulder girdle.
Stronger rehabilitation can be pursued if the patient needs high performance from their shoulder but four months should typically elapse before overhead sports practise will be wise. Older patients or those with greater tuberosity fractures (a bit of the upper arm bone where tendons attach) have a somewhat better prognosis. Modification of a patient’s typical activities may be required by limiting arduous work, controlling overhead activities and deciding not to indulge in sporting activities which carry increased risks.
Recurrence of dislocation is 30% overall for non-athletic individuals and 82% in those who are athletes, if they are not surgically managed. However, re-dislocation rates after the first dislocation event vary greatly depending on the age of the individual. Very young people, under ten years old, have a 100% likelihood of dislocating again whilst people between 41 and 50 years old have a probability of recurrence between 0 and 24%. If patients suffer from recurrent dislocation or subluxation (partial dislocation) they may need surgical management.
The timing of surgical management is not clear although early surgery after the initial dislocation may be advantageous. Studies vary but one showed that after stabilisation surgery via the arthroscope there was a four percent dislocation rate but a 94 percent repeat dislocation rate after conservative treatment. Overall it looks like the recurrence rate is higher for those patients managed by non-operative immobilisation. The level of stability given in operation was better with open surgery but arthroscopic techniques have advanced considerably and this distinction has disappeared.
Jonathan Blood Smyth is the Superintendent of Physiotherapists at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK. He writes articles about back pain, neck pain, and injury management. If you are looking for physiotherapists in Bolton visit his website.
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