This is the most common form and usually occurs as a result of a fall in which the arm is twisted up and away from the body (as in preparing to throw a ball). The tissues at the front of the shoulder (the “labrum”) can be damaged, tearing them away from their attachment.

Acute dislocation causes severe pain in the arm, which is commonly held by the side. Usually the patient is unwilling to allow anyone to touch the arm. Sometimes it is possible to see a swelling in the front of the shoulder.

Acute dislocation is usually easy to diagnose based on the history and x-rays.

If the patient is seen at a later time (when the shoulder has been reduced), the history of the dislocation (s) will be taken and the shoulder examined. There are usually certain positions in which the shoulder feels as if it is going to dislocate. Investigations will include x-rays, MRI and CT scans.

The first priority is to reduce the shoulder (put it back into the joint). Many people have been taught how to do this on the side of the pitch. If not, then the patient will be requesting to be taken to hospital.

In hospital a combination of a painkiller and muscle relaxant is given and the shoulder manipulated back into joint. The position will be checked with an x-ray although the instant relief of pain is a good indication of success. Rarely it is not possible to put the shoulder back into the joint like this and a full anaesthetic is required.

The arm will be placed in a sling for 3 weeks followed by physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles.

After a first dislocation, there is a chance of dislocating the shoulder again with far less trauma because of the internal damage to the joint. The chance is higher if the patient is younger or is involved in contact sports. In some cases the chances can be as high as 80%.

If the shoulder keeps dislocating or if the patient is highly likely to suffer recurrent dislocation, it may be necessary to operate to stabilize the shoulder.

On occasion, the bone of the glenoid becomes damaged and a soft tissue repair is unlikely to work. If this is the case then the surgeon may recommend that the bone be rebuilt by moving a small adjacent bone – this is known as the Laterjet Procedure.

This form of shoulder dislocation is less common and arises either as a result of an abnormality of the tissues stabilizing the shoulder or as a result of “repetitive microtrauma”. This is experienced by gymnasts, swimmers and people who repeatedly stress the shoulder through a wide range of motion.

The symptoms may be the same as for a traumatic dislocation or there may be an ache in the shoulder and a feeling of looseness. Often sportsmen complain of a “dead arm” during sports.

If the shoulder is dislocated then the acute treatment is the same. If the symptoms are more vague, then a period of physiotherapy is required. The aim of this is to improve the balance of the shoulder muscles and to “stabilize the scapula”. The scapula (shoulder blade) is the structure of which the whole arm hangs and it moves around the chest wall as the arm moves. If it does not move properly then the shoulder will not move properly.

As with the traumatic type of dislocation the history of the events will be taken and the shoulder examined. Investigations are performed as for the traumatic type.

In many cases the shoulder will settle with physiotherapy. If there is a significant structural problem within the shoulder, it may be necessary to operate to repair this and to recreate the internal stabilizing structures.