What is glenohumeral dislocation?
Glenohumeral dislocation is a shoulder dislocation that can be caused by traumatic injury, such as sports injury or weakening of capsular bonds that stabilize the shoulder joint. The term glenohumeral refers to the name of the bones and sockets of the shoulder. The bone, which fits in the shoulder socket, is a humerus and the socket is called a gllenoid. In the glenohumeral dislocation, the bone and the socket are separated and the head of the humerus rises completely from the socket.
Glenohumeral shoulder joint is the most often dislocated joint in the human body. The most common type of arm dislocation is the front glenohumeral dislocation in which the humerus head is moved above the joint. The rear dislocation in which the humerus head is moved under the shoulder joint is much less common. Approximately 95% of shoulder dislocation cases occur due to traumatic damage. Dislocation is extremely painful and requires an initial sedation with narcotic analgesics, followed by several days of drug to treat pain.
People who had one shoulder dislocation episode have an increased risk of further dislocation. Young people under 20 years of age have a higher risk after the initial episode. It is assumed that this is due to a higher level of activity of younger people, rather than factors directly to age. The risk also increases serious damage during initial dislocation. Such injuries include a fracture of the gllenoid socket or tearing the muscles of the rotator cuff that supports the joint.
Treatment of the first line Glenohumeral Dislocation involves replacing the bone of the humerus in a gluenoid socket, which is often as painful as the dislocation itself. Within two to three weeks, the arm is held in a sling to immobilize the shoulder joint and allow healing. Physical therapy is very limited during this time and includes exercise to improve the range of hand, wrist and elbow movement.
Another phase of glenohumeral dislocation treatment begins two or three weeks after initial injuredand. Older people with this injury are usually recommended to start exercising shoulders earlier to ease the stiffness of the joint. The aim of physical therapy is to improve the range of shoulder movement by exercising, which gradually increase the rotation and bend of the joint.
About six weeks after the Glenohumeral shoulder dislocation is a safe intensive exercise for most people. The only exception is young adults due to the high risk of additional dislocation episodes. These patients are recommended to wait three months before adding strenuous exercise to a routine of physical therapy. Exercise to strengthen the rotator cuff muscles are particularly useful, especially for people who have damaged Muscles during the dislocation episode. Swimming is also recommended as an exercise that helps strengthen the joint without further risk of injury.