What is anterior dislocation of the shoulder?
When the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder (the ball and socket joint) is twisted apart so that the ball slips out the front of the socket, this is called an anterior dislocation. If the ball only partly slips out, and then slips back in on it’s own, this is called a subluxation. Who is at risk for dislocation? Most commonly, shoulder dislocations occur in young, active individuals under the age of 30. When dislocation occurs in individuals over 30, it is often associated with other types of injury, such as fractures of the shoulder or tears in the rotator cuff tendon. Also, there is a small group of patients who are born with loose shoulders and consequently experience subluxations of the shoulder without significant trauma. How does dislocation occur? Usually the injury causing dislocation occurs when the arm is elevated overhead as in a throwing position and a force is applied to the arm, causing it to be pushed backwards. Sometimes people dislocate their shoulder when they fall di
