While playing football last week, my nine-year-old son fell and hurt his shoulder. He was unable to move his arm and complained of severe pain. He was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder. How common are these types of injuries?
A dislocation of a joint occurs when one or more of the bones slip from their normal position in the joint. Almost any joint in the body can dislocate if enough force is applied to it.
Children under the age of four years are particularly prone to dislocation of the elbow - sometimes known as nursemaids elbow - when they are yanked out of harms way or pulled upright by their arms. This can occur all too easily if grabbed by the arm to prevent them falling or being swung by the arms during play.
Dislocation of the shoulder or knee is more common in older children and tends to occur during sports or rough play.
He was in so much pain I was sure he had broken something.
Dislocations of a joint can be very painful and can take several weeks to heal.
Diagnosis is usually made by physical examination and/or X-ray. If you suspect your child has dislocated a joint it is important to seek immediate medical treatment. If left untreated, damage to the nerves and ligaments around the dislocation can affect the functional ability of the joint/limb in the long term.
Children who have sustained a dislocation commonly complain of sudden pain, weakness of the limb or may be unable to move the joint. On examination, you may notice a change in the normal contours of the joint and that the child is cradling or protecting the injury site.
Once his shoulder was popped back into place my son's arm was put in a sling. He was also told to do some exercises.
Once a dislocation has been reduced (put back in place) a sling is sometimes used to support the joint until such time as the injured ligaments have recovered.
During the recuperation period it is important that your son exercise his shoulder to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the joint. There is an increased risk of re-dislocating a shoulder or elbow if the ligament support remains lax. If he hasn't been given an appointment for physiotherapy, you should ask for a referral. A chartered physio is best placed to treat these types of injuries.