Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic: What Should You Check After a Shoulder Dislocation?

“Doctor, my shoulder dislocated once.
Isn’t it fine as long as it’s put back in place?”

“Do I need an MRI and even surgery?”

We hear these questions often in our practice.

Let’s take a look at what a Bankart lesion is
and how we decide between nonsurgical and surgical treatment
as part of care at a Dongtan shoulder orthopedic clinic.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

Why the Shoulder Is Structurally Prone to Dislocation: Insights from a Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

“My knee doesn’t dislocate,

so why does only my shoulder?”

It’s not so much that the shoulder is weak;
it’s because the joint is designed to allow a wide range of motion.

The knee and hip joints are deeply interlocked bone to bone,
so they are less likely to dislocate.

The shoulder, by contrast, is more like
a ball resting on a shallow dish than a deep bowl.

The glenoid of the shoulder blade acts as the dish,
while the humeral head is the ball.

The shoulder can move through a wide range, but its structure makes it prone to dislocating forward if it rotates too far.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

When the Ball Dislocates, the Rim of the Dish Can Also Be Damaged

“It was put back in place,

so why does it still feel loose?”

When the shoulder dislocates, it’s not just the humeral head that moves out of place.

The cartilaginous rim around the humeral head, called the glenoid labrum, is also commonly damaged.

The glenoid labrum is a structure that
adds height to the edge of the dish, like a rubber bumper.

A forceful dislocation can cause this bumper to tear away along the front of the joint.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

Bankart Lesions and Recurrent Dislocations: Guidance from a Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

“If you thought,

‘It dislocated once, so it should be fine now’…”

An injury in which the glenoid labrum tears away
is medically known as a Bankart lesion.

It can be compared to
one side of a doorframe being torn off when a door slams into it.

If this injury is not treated adequately and you continue using your shoulder,
the risk of habitual or recurrent dislocations may increase.

People who experience their first shoulder dislocation in their late teens or early twenties
may think it will only happen once.

However, the risk of another dislocation in this age group should not be underestimated.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

Situations That Can Lead to Shoulder Dislocation and the Instability That May Persist

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“If a certain position feels frightening

when you wash your hair or get dressed…”

Shoulder dislocations can occur during contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and handball,
or during overhead movements in activities such as badminton, volleyball, baseball, and bench pressing.

People in occupations that involve strenuous arm use, such as military personnel, firefighters, and police officers, should also take care.
Dislocations can also occur in adolescents and young adults who fall and brace themselves with a hand or whose arm is forced backward.

What matters is what happens after the dislocation.

When reaching the arm backward or washing your hair,
or while getting dressed, you may feel that your shoulder is unstable.

If this discomfort persists, you may hesitate to use your arm in everyday life.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

At a Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic, We Start by Listening to Your Story

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“What do you mean when you say

it’s not enough to just put it back in place?”

Rather than stopping after reducing the shoulder,
we need to check what kind of damage has occurred.

We start by talking things through with you.

We ask when the first dislocation happened and how many times,
what movement caused it,
and which way the arm was forced.

We then perform a physical examination, palpating the area around the shoulder and moving the arm and hand through different angles to identify positions that cause instability and points that trigger pain.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

X-Rays and MRIs Look at Different Things

“Do I really need an MRI?”

It’s not that one test is better than the other;
each one examines different things.

X-rays let us assess bone alignment, fractures, and joint spacing.

An MRI helps us determine the direction and extent of damage to the glenoid labrum,
whether the joint capsule has stretched,
and whether there is damage to the tendons, including the rotator cuff.

These results provide important evidence for deciding between nonsurgical and surgical treatment.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

How We Decide Between Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment at a Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

“Does a dislocated shoulder always need surgery?”

“Even if you’re young, is it better to avoid surgery whenever possible?”

We don’t decide on a treatment method in advance.

We consider whether this was the first dislocation or whether it has happened repeatedly,
your age and future activity plans, and other factors
before deciding on a treatment approach based on the full picture.

If it’s the first dislocation, the Bankart lesion is not severe,
and you don’t usually engage in strenuous exercise,
nonsurgical treatment often leads to improvement.

A brace is worn for a set period to protect the shoulder,
and extracorporeal shock wave therapy and physical therapy are used to manage pain and inflammation.
Rehabilitation exercises also strengthen the muscles that stabilize the shoulder.

If the shoulder has dislocated two or more times,
if the glenoid labrum is extensively damaged even after a first dislocation,
if you have a high activity level, such as being an athlete, and another dislocation could have serious consequences,
or if there is accompanying bone damage, surgery may be carefully considered.

Surgical options include arthroscopic repair of the glenoid labrum,
also known as Bankart repair, and capsular shift surgery.

Surgery does not involve restricting all shoulder movement.

The goal of treatment is to restore the damaged tissue as close as possible to its original position, so you can use your shoulder with confidence and comfort, as you did before the dislocation.

However, we hope you won’t overlook what we mean by
“as close as possible to its original position.”

It doesn’t mean we can promise to restore the shoulder completely to its pre-dislocation state;
it means treatment aims to restore the damaged structures in that direction.

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

Why Follow-Up Care Matters After a Dislocation

“If my shoulder dislocated once while I was exercising,

I’m not sure whether I can start again…”

Dongtan Shoulder Orthopedic Clinic

A shoulder dislocation is not always a problem that
ends after the shoulder is put back in place once.

It’s important to also assess the Bankart lesion and shoulder instability that may follow.

Rather than assuming everything is fine because the shoulder was put back in place,
it’s a good idea to check for damage to the structures inside the shoulder.

If you’re worried about whether you can exercise again after a dislocation,
or if you’re afraid it will happen again and find it difficult to use your arm, don’t rely only on your own online searches.
Consider having your condition assessed at a nearby orthopedic clinic.

If you’re looking for a Dongtan shoulder orthopedic clinic, Gamtan Orthopedic Clinic can assess your shoulder’s structure and instability together.

When it comes to joints, it’s Gamtan: Gamtan Orthopedic Clinic

[Learn more through Gamtan Orthopedic Clinic videos]

Video · Why shouldn’t you just put a dislocated shoulder back in place?