Dislocations and fractures of the shoulder

A dislocated shoulder is a relatively common occurrence, especially for people who play a lot of sports. In this section, shoulder dislocations are explained and the different types of treatment for this injury are also discussed. This information is divided into the following topics:

• What is a dislocated shoulder?
• How are dislocations treated after the shoulder has been put back in the joint?
• What kinds of operations are done for a dislocated shoulder?
• Fractures of the shoulder

Normal Shoulder	Dislocated Shoulder

In the x-ray on the right, the rounded head of the humerus is no longer sitting in the correct position with respect to the shallow cup of the scapula. The scapula is shown above the head of the humerus. It is empty on this x-ray.