Shoulder dislocation / shoulder joint instability

Sudden severe snapping in the shoulder joint with usually very painful deformation of the shoulder. A distinction is made between a very common anterior dislocation and a rare posterior dislocation.

Shoulder dislocations are either due to a congenital/genetic disposition or are traumatic. In the former group, the first dislocation usually occurs in late adolescence. Without surgical treatment, these dislocations have an extremely high recurrence rate and often lead to severe consequential damage.

In the case of recurrent (repeated) congenital dislocation of the shoulder joint in adolescents, arthroscopic refixation of the labrum is regularly required, often with additional tightening of the joint capsule. This procedure should always be performed arthroscopically if possible. In the case of initial injuries, the extent of the injury, as shown by NMR (magnetic resonance imaging), determines whether arthroscopic reconstruction of the labrum is necessary. The labrum is a cartilage ring around the glenoid cavity that stabilizes the shoulder joint and thus prevents dislocations.