How to Diagnose a Dislocated Shoulder

Usually the first sign of a shoulder dislocation is the way in which the injury was caused. They are common as sports injuries, but can also happen whenever the arm is twisted suddenly, severely pulled or pushed (like in a football tackle) and when tremendous pressure is applied to the shoulder. Car accidents and previous misplacement of the shoulder or an underlying medical condition are other causes of a dislocated shoulder. After the initiating event is determined, the dislocated shoulder can be diagnosed.

Instructions

• 1

  Take a visual assessment. The muscle of the upper arm will look flat. Look for a bulge on either the front or back of the shoulder. There may also be swelling, bruising and redness. The arm will dangle at an odd position.

• 2

  Identify the symptoms. A dislocated shoulder presents with severe pain in the shoulder, and numbness and/or tingling in the fingertips and arm. There could be tenderness at the site of the bruising and swelling as well. You will have no muscle control in the arm, but will be able to move the hand.

• 3

  Have a medical professional take an X-ray. The doctors in the emergency room or orthopedic department will send you for an X-ray to be sure that it is indeed a dislocation. This is also to rule out damage to the surrounding tissues.

• 4

  Rule out an underlying condition. Several problems can lead to recurrent dislocations. A ligament loosened due a collagen disorder, tears and/or breaks on the tissues or head of the humerus bone (the bone that connects to the shoulder) or a malformed humerus can all lead to several bouts of a dislocated shoulder. A family history of poor muscle tone or recurrent dislocations is also said to be a culprit. Identifying an underlying condition is the only way to begin prevention of another dislocation.