Luxation of the shoulder is the dislocation of the shoulder ball from the socket. This dislocation can occur in a forward-backward, backward-upward or only upward direction. The missing connection of the shoulder ball (humeral head) to the joint socket (glenoid) is the hallmark of this injury.
30% of all acute shoulder injuries are luxations, with mainly athletically active men up to the age of 35 being affected.
The luxation of the shoulder is usually (80%) caused by a fall on the outstretched arm.
The ligament connections of the shoulder are torn or overstretched. If this luxation occurs repeatedly, the tendons and articular cartilage sometimes suffer very serious damage.
Treatment of luxation of the shoulder is largely surgical and involves arthroscopy and fixing the torn ligaments and tendons. The procedure is minimally invasive and has a good success rate.
Luxations after the age of 40 must always be clarified with regard to tendon tears that have occurred.
In the case of luxation of the shoulder, it must always be set up first and clarified with an MRI examination.
If instability persists, arthroscopic stabilization is now standard. This involves reattaching the torn joint lip to the bone and tightening the overstretched capsular ligament apparatus.
Dr. Martin Schwarz, MSc, Prim. a.D.
Specialist for trauma surgery,
Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology Shoulder Center Vienna
Surgery for shoulder, knee and sports injuries