Shoulder dislocation and rotator cuff tear

Shoulder dislocation

The shoulder has the widest range of motion of any joint, which also makes it the joint that dislocates most often. Most dislocations are forwards and tear the cartilage ring at the front of the socket (labrum) — a Bankart lesion. Sometimes a piece of bone breaks off the socket rim too (bony Bankart).

Symptoms

• The shoulder coming out, usually put back in hospital
• Afterwards, recurrent dislocation or a slipping feeling when the arm is raised and turned

Treatment

After a first dislocation, young athletes have a high risk of recurrence. Treatment is planned by age, sport, bone loss and the number of dislocations. With recurrent dislocations the torn labrum is reattached through arthroscopic Bankart repair. Prof. Gürsoy has published a surgical technique for arthroscopic fixation of the bony Bankart lesion.

Rotator cuff tear

The rotator cuff is the group of four tendons that moves and stabilises the shoulder. Tears can come from wear with age or from injuries such as falls.

Symptoms

• Shoulder pain when lifting the arm and especially at night
• Weakness lifting the arm

Treatment

Partial and small tears may first be treated with physiotherapy and injections. Full-thickness and especially traumatic tears are repaired back to the bone arthroscopically. He has published a study on augmented fixation after repair of massive rotator cuff tears.

Recovery

After shoulder surgery a sling is used for a period while the repair heals, and physiotherapy progresses in stages. Return to sport and heavy work depends on the repair and the shoulder's strength.

Common questions