Long-Term Consequences of Shoulder Separation

Shoulder separations are most commonly found in individuals involved in contact athletics, such as football, hockey, wrestling or baseball. Quarterbacks who are sacked, sometimes suffer separated shoulders as their shoulder hits the ground hard. In other instances, an accidental fall or an automobile accident can cause shoulder separation. Shoulder separations can be minor. Yet, depending upon the level of the injury, damage to ligaments and surgery involved, long-term consequences can affect recovery and future mobility.

Definition

• The shoulder separation injury can be partial, or it may be a total separation of the two parts of the shoulder -- the clavicle or collarbone and the acromion or shoulder blade. Both the collar bone and the shoulder blade are held together by the acromioclavicular joint and the coracoclavicular ligaments. A shoulder separation occurs when, "these ligaments are partially or completely torn and the injury is classified according to how severely these ligaments are injured," according to the WebMD website.

Types I and II

• A Type I Shoulder separation can occur from a sprain or partial tear of the ligaments and elevate to a partial tear of the AC ligament, in which the CC ligament remains uninjured. In a Type II injury, the AC ligament becomes completely torn, the collarbone may becomes partially separated from the acromion and the, " CC ligament is either not injured, or partially torn," according to the website WebMD. The long-term effects are minor and typically will heal in a couple weeks, with minimal use of the shoulder. Over time, the shoulder disruption can typically result in an erosion of articular cartilage and eventually develop "wear and tear" arthritis.

Type III

• A Type III shoulder separation injury is far more serious because the injury results in a complete tear or AC separation. The nature of the consequences, both short- and long-term, will depend upon the age and activity level of the patient involved. An older person who suffers from a Type III injury may realize the mechanics of the muscles that are functioning to move the arm are altered and may result in more, "wear of the rotator cuff muscles, and tendons. The wear can cause pain, weakness, and loss of motion," according to the Hospital For Special Surgery website.

Types IV to VI

• Type IV to VI shoulder injuries are more severe and will require arthroscopic treatment, yet result in less exposure to long-term complications. A Type IV injury involves an inferior dislocation of the lateral end of the clavicle and the distal clavicle is displaced posteriorly into or through the trapezius. A Type V injury involves an exaggeration of the vertical displacement of the clavicle from the scapula- coracoclavicular interspace, according to the website Brown University Division of Biology and Medicine. A Type VI injury involves a inferior dislocation of the lateral end of the clavicle. Type IV to VI involve some aspect of a Type III injury.