Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - What it is

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in your body. This is due to the fact that the glenoid, which is the cup that holds the humeral head, is shallow, thus allowing a wide range of motion. However, this shallow glenoid causes the shoulder joint to be susceptible to injury. The most common type of shoulder dislocation is an anterior dislocation (dislocated to the front), accounting for 95-97% of all shoulder dislocations, followed by posterior dislocation (dislocated towards the back) and inferior dislocation (dislocated downwards).

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Symptoms

Shoulder pain
Night pain (when lying on the affect arm)
Weakness of the arm on the affected side
Reduced range-of-motion of the affected shoulder

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - How to prevent?

To prevent another dislocation, patients should continue wearing the sling or immobilizer until it is deem safe by the orthopaedic surgeon.

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Causes and Risk Factors

A blow to the shoulder from the front
A flow to the shoulder from the back
Falling on an outstretched arm

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Diagnosis

Physical examination
X-rays of the shoulder
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the shoulder
Ultrasound shoulder
Computed Tomography (CT) if there is suspected nerve injury

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Treatments

Non-surgical option

Reduction of the dislocated shoulder, with or without sedation.

Surgical option may be offered for:

Dislocations that cannot be reduced
Hill-Sachs deformities
Bankart Lesions
Greater tuberosity fractures

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Preparing for surgery

Prepare front-buttoned shirts or blouses, preferably short-sleeved, for easy wearing.
Prepare Ice pack to relieve post-operation shoulder swelling and pain. Ice pack can also be bought in the hospital from the physiotherapist.
Prepare wet wipes for cleaning of underarm area on the operated shoulder.
For female patients you may want to consider getting a front hook, strapless brassiere as the bra strap may put pressure on your wound and also, you are not advisable to stretch your operated arm backwards
You may wish to practice using more of the unaffected arm to do daily activities like combing of hair, showering, having your meals etc. This is to familiarize yourself with the post-operative limitations of the affected shoulder.
As lifting of heavy weight on the operated arm is not recommended after surgery, you may want to do grocery shopping in advance or seek assistance from family or friends.

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Post-surgery care

After successful reduction of shoulder dislocation, the shoulder is kept immobilized in a sling or immobilizer. The surgeon will decide on the duration of the immobilization and when it will be safe to start rehabilitation.

Shoulder Dislocation and Reduction/Bankart or SLAP repair - Other Information

Overview

Article contributed by Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

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