Anterior shoulder dislocation (Sports Injury Medicine Clinic, 2009):
- History of direct or indirect trauma to the shoulder e.g. arm overhead and forced backward
- Pain is often sudden and severe
- Often associated with a feeling of instability with movement and/or sensation of shoulder 'popping out'
- Shoulder may look obviously different to the other side (sulcus sign pictured below)
- Patient will usually hold the arm close into their body to avoid pain
- Pins and needles or numbness may occur through the arm to the hand if nerve damage has occured
Recurrent dislocation and instability
- Increasing frequency and ease of repeated dislocation or subluxation (partial dislocation)
- Feeling of apprehension (uncomfortable), dead arm, clicking, clunking or popping with certain movements
- Weakening of surrounding musculature (e.g. rotator cuff mucles)
- May be associated impingement (jamming of structures)
Positive sulcus sign: gapping between the top of the shoulder and top of the arm bone
If you suspect you have suffered an anterior (forward) shoulder dislocation, other associated injuries must be considered such as:
