Dislocation

Joint dislocation occurs when the end of a bone slips out of a joint. One of the most common joints to be dislocated is the shoulder joint, and we treat our fair share of them here at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine. A joint dislocation should always be treated as a medical emergency as leaving it untreated can damage the ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels in the surrounding area.

Most dislocations are the product of an uneven or unexpected impact at an angle the joint isn’t designed to withstand. It takes a considerable amount of force to dislocate most joints, but once it happens, it is more likely to dislocate again in the future.

Symptoms

Generally, a joint injury such as dislocation is fairly obvious. The joint area may appear swollen, bruised, red, or discolored. Depending on which joint has dislocated the area may also look deformed or have an unusual shape.

Other symptoms include:

• Reduced range of motion
• Pain during movement
• Numbness or tingling in the affected area

Treatment

Treatment will vary based on the location of the joint and the severity of the dislocation. For a partial dislocation, the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method may convince the joint to go back into place. For more severe instances, the following methods may be required:

• Manual repositioning
• Immobilization
• Medication
• Rehabilitation of the affected joint

Give us a call at 904-825-0540 or stop in today.