Shoulder dislocation treatment in Dubai

Where in Dubai

Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees shoulder dislocations and loose shoulders at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. A shoulder that is out of joint needs an emergency department first. After it has been put back, the clinic is the place for the follow-up: checking the arm, arranging an MRI, and deciding whether physiotherapy or a repair suits your shoulder.

What is a shoulder dislocation?

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and the easiest to dislocate. A dislocation is when the ball at the top of the arm bone comes out of its shallow socket. It usually pops out to the front, in a fall onto the arm or a hard tackle in sport. When it does, the rim of soft cartilage around the socket, called the labrum, can tear. A tear in the front part of the labrum is called a Bankart lesion. If it does not heal well, the shoulder can feel loose and slip out again. This is called shoulder instability. It is most likely in young, active people.

Common signs

• A shoulder that looks out of place or square after a fall or a blow, with severe pain.
• Being unable to move the arm after an injury.
• Numbness or tingling down the arm after the shoulder came out.
• A shoulder that has dislocated before and now slips or feels loose with certain movements.
• Fear of putting the arm overhead or out to the side, in case it pops out again.

How Dr. Subhash approaches it

Dr. Subhash lists fractures and dislocations in his trauma work and has years of trauma and emergency experience in India and the UAE. He also performs shoulder arthroscopy, including labrum repair and capsular repair, which are the keyhole operations used to stabilise a shoulder that keeps dislocating. He looks at your age, your sport or work, how many times the shoulder has come out and what the scans show, then explains whether physiotherapy or a repair suits you.

What to expect

1. 01

   Putting it back

   A freshly dislocated shoulder is put back in place in an emergency department, with pain relief or sedation. X-rays are taken before and after.

2. 02

   Sling and early review

   A sling supports the arm for a short time. He checks the nerves and blood supply in the arm and looks for any fracture.

3. 03

   Scan

   An MRI, sometimes with dye in the joint, shows whether the labrum is torn and whether the socket or ball has been damaged.

4. 04

   Rehabilitation

   Physiotherapy rebuilds the muscles that hold the shoulder steady. For many people this is the main treatment.

5. 05

   Repair if needed

   If the shoulder keeps coming out, or the risk of that is high, a keyhole repair can stitch the labrum back to the socket. It is usually day surgery.

Getting better

Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.

• Recovery after a first dislocation usually takes about six to twelve weeks.
• A return to some sports can take up to about sixteen weeks, sometimes longer.
• After a keyhole repair, a sling is worn for some weeks and contact sport usually waits several months.
• The younger and more active you are, the higher the chance of another dislocation without a repair.

Risks to know about

• Never try to put a dislocated shoulder back yourself: it can damage nerves, blood vessels or bone.
• After surgery: stiffness, infection or the shoulder becoming loose again, all uncommon.

When to book a visit

Where to book