Shoulder disarticulation/Definition
A shoulder disarticulation is a damage that happens when the ball of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint is detached from its normal location and the ball comes out of the shoulder’s socket.
When this damage happens, the ball may slides out from its place and necessitate returning to its position, or it can get back into its normal state by itself.
How this disarticulations happens
Reminder The shoulder joint is a combination of a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is on the top of the arm bone (the humerus), and this fits into a shoulder blade socket (the scapula) called the glenoid.
This shoulder joint is in fact unbelievable because of its moving the shoulder though an incredible arc of movement. (Note that no joint in the human body allows more movement than the shoulder joint).
Because of this wide movement, the shoulder state is unstable such as all the other joints and even more, therefore, shoulder unsteadiness is common.
Generally, a shoulder disarticulation happens following to a damage such as a falling or a sports-related harm.
Anterior disarticulation
Most of the time (95%), when the shoulder displaces, the top of the humerus is sitting in front of the shoulder blade.
Posterior disarticulation
In less than 5% of the cases, the top of the Humerus is behind the shoulder blade. Posterior disarticulations are not frequent and seen after damages like electrocution or after a removal.
Disarticulation or Separation?
People frequently mix between a shoulder disarticulation with a shoulder separation; however, these are two extremely different damages!
It is imperative to differentiate these two difficulties since the topics with management, behavior, and rehabilitation are diverse.
A shoulder separation happens when the collar bone loses its contact with the shoulder blade. Repeatedly these words are confused; consequently, the damages and the adequate behavior are extremely different as well.
Signs of a shoulder disarticulation
Patients with a shoulder disarticulation are frequently in substantial pain. They know that something is wrong, nevertheless may not know they have sustained a shoulder disarticulation.
Signs of shoulder disarticulation comprise:
- The Shoulder pain
- The arm held at the side, regularly away somewhat from the body with the forearm turned externally
- The shoulder muscle loses the normal rounded contour
- The Incapability to moving the arm position
- The shoulder Inflammation
The Identification of a shoulder disarticulation is regularly quite deceptive just by talking to a patient and by inspecting the joint. To define if there is any nerve or blood vessel damage, patients should be inspected.
This inspection should be done before repositioning the shoulder disarticulation.
X-rays should be done as well to check for any broken bone around the joint, and to define the position of this shoulder disarticulation.
How to treat a shoulder disarticulation
There are a number of options about how to treat a shoulder disarticulation; however, the most significant step is to fix correctly the joint, (this process is known by dropping the disarticulation).
Once the shoulder is back to its normal location, an adequate treatment can be defined.
To conclude
When a shoulder is hurt, and In order to permit regaining to its normal position, defining if operation is required to repair this harm, is the most important decision every time we face a shoulder disarticulation.
Restoring this injury may help preventing the repetition of a shoulder disarticulation.
Note that your surgeon advice can help you define the best behavior for your specific state.