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Dislocated Shoulder - Medical Negligence Claim
Thousands of clinical compensation claims are initiated every year in the United Kingdom by medical negligence solicitors on behalf of people from all walks of life. A multitude of operations and procedures are executed successfully however a small percentage do go wrong, laying the grounds for medical negligence solicitors to take legal action in order to claim compensation. Both legal aid and the no win no fee scheme are available to pursue medical negligence compensation claims.
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Trauma to the upper arm and shoulder can cause a dislocated shoulder. Sometimes just moving the shoulder in the wrong way can cause a dislocated shoulder without any specific trauma.
The shoulders are very mobile and can move in many different directions. A dislocated shoulder happens when the ball portion of the distal joint pops out of the cup-shaped socket in the shoulder blade area. It is much different from a separated shoulder because it needs an active joint procedure to pop the dislocation into place. Dislocated joints are much more extensive than separated shoulder joint that just involves ligament damage to where the shoulder blade meets the collarbone.
You need to seek immediate medical attention if you think you have a dislocated shoulder. The signs or symptoms of a dislocated shoulder include a deformed shoulder, having bruising or discoloration over the shoulder area, having pain in the shoulder and an inability to move the joint through much of a range of motion. You can also get nerve damage that can cause numbness or tingling of the shoulder in your neck or down your arm. The muscles can become spasmed, making it difficult to replace the joint in its proper location.
While waiting for definitive treatment, do not move the joint from its current position. You can do more damage if you try to move it. You should ice the injured joint so that you can reduce the pain and swelling of the affected area.
The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body because it can move in many directions and can dislocate anteriorly, posteriorly, downward or only partially. The ligaments can be stretched or torn at the time of the dislocation. When your shoulder dislocates, it happens when a sudden blow to the shoulder puts the joint out of place. Partial dislocation is due to a minor trauma to the shoulder and is known as a subluxation.
Causes of a dislocation can be from a sports injury such as with football or hockey. Falls can cause a sports injury and you can get a dislocated shoulder to an injury unrelated to sports, such as with a motor vehicle injury.
Doctors can do the following tests to check for a dislocated shoulder: an X-ray can show the dislocation and whether or not there are broken bones; an MRI can show more complete pictures, including any damage to ligaments and other soft tissue injuries; an EMG can show damage to muscles from the injury, especially if there is repetitive injuries to the shoulder.
Treatment of a shoulder dislocation is most often done in the form of a closed reduction of the shoulder. The shoulder is put in a specific position and traction is applied to the joint, especially after the patient is given a sedative or muscle relaxant to loosen the muscles and relax the patient before relocating the joint. Sometimes a general anesthetic is necessary to relax the patient fully before a closed reduction can take place.
When the shoulder joint is replaced in its proper position, the pain should subside and you should have immobilization of the joint in a special sling or splint that prevents further injury. Pain relievers may be necessary to calm the pain while you are recovering from injury.
After the joint is replaced and the sling has strengthened the joint, you need to regain your strength so you can use the shoulder without weakness or re-dislocation of the joint. This involves a rehabilitation program of range of motion and strengthening exercises to make the joint stronger. Sometimes a previous dislocation makes you more liable to have subsequent dislocations, often with very little injury required to dislocate the joint.
Surgery may be required if closed reduction is not able to be obtained. This is when an internal open reduction is performed. It is also done when the ligaments and tendons need to be repaired or shortened so the joint stays in place.