SHOULDER

A shoulder dislocation refers to the misalignment of the ball head of the humerus and the scapula’s socket edge. However, it can dislocate to varying degrees and in different directions. If only a part of the humerus head moves out of its socket, it is considered a partial dislocation, or shoulder subluxation, which doesn’t cause extensive damage to the connective tissues. If the entire head moves out of the socket, it is a complete dislocation of the shoulder which often causes permanent damage to the connective tissues and cartilage layers.

The humerus head of the shoulder joint simply rests on the groove in the scapula and is less restricted by muscles and ligaments than other joints. Though it allows the joint to move smoothly in multiple directions, it also puts the humerus head at risk of moving out of its place. Hence, it is more likely to be dislocated, especially in athletes.

There are cases where a dislocated shoulder repositioned itself immediately or after some time. However, it still requires metical attention for any tissue or cartilage damage caused by the temporary dislocation.

In most cases, the surgeon tries to fix the dislocated shoulder with non-invasive techniques, such as closed reduction and immobilization. However, if the dislocation were extensive enough to cause looseness in the joint that may lead to recurring dislocation, a surgical reconstruction would be more effective. Dr. Parnjal Kodkani considers several medical and professional factors before recommending a surgical approach to any patient. Hence, he can be a better judge of whether your shoulder dislocation should or shouldn’t be treated surgically.

Various athletes and professionals who extensively use their shoulders often suffer from mild to severe, temporary pain due to overuse, fatigue, or minor accidents. But the general causes of shoulder pain observed by our shoulder specialist in Mumbai today include:

• Muscle sprains and strains that lead to rotator cuff injuries
• Conditions like bursitis or tendonitis that inflame the bursae and tendons of the joint
• Frozen shoulder condition in older adults
• Shoulder dislocations cause by minor or major accidents
• Overuse and degradation of joint cartilage, leading to Osteoarthritis

The most prominent symptoms of a frozen shoulder are pain and stiffness. It causes a dull ache in your shoulder joint and the muscles wrapped over its top. In the initial stage, the pain occurs when the shoulder moves and later persists during the night. The intensity of pain aggravates for up to 2-3 months after the onset of the condition. This is followed by increasing stiffness which resolves over 9 months to a year.

No, rotator cuff tears and similar ligament injuries do not heal on their own in most cases. However, mild to moderate injuries aren’t recommended immediate surgery as well. Some symptoms may resolve with appropriate physiotherapy. The primary aim of rotator cuff treatment is to reduce its symptoms to allow the patient to perform routine activities while preserving the joint’s mobility and strength. However, if you’re a professional athlete or someone who needs to use the shoulder extensively, consulting a shoulder surgeon in Mumbai would be your better option.

Shoulder replacement surgery is the last resort to re-establish a severely damaged shoulder joint and restore its general mobility. It is only recommended for some conditions after all the medicinal and other therapeutic treatments have been exhausted with no signs of improvement. Some of these shoulder conditions include:

• Accidental injuries where the ball of the shoulder joint is fractured beyond restoration
• Severe cases of arthritis where the entire cartilage of the shoulder joint is degraded and becomes persistently inflamed
• Extensive rotator cuff tears causing the loss of joint stability and mobility altogether

Once you have your shoulder replacement, our shoulder surgeon in Mumbai will keep you under observation for the next one to three days, depending on the severity of your surgery. Your treated arm will be immobilized with a sling when you leave, and you will be put under guided physiotherapy till full recovery. Our shoulder surgeon will suggest resuming gentle activities of the arm during the next two to six weeks. But driving will have to wait until you are personally confident about your shoulder’s mobility. With proper therapy and diet, most patients return to non-strenuous routine activities within two to three months. After this period, your therapy will be focused on enhancing your muscle strength around the shoulders to support the new implants. Most patients are allowed to resume their routine life after six months, but this period varies based on the extent of your surgery and healing capability.

• It is a minimally invasive procedure that causes minimal tissue damage, hence, reducing the recovery period.
• It causes much less post-surgery pain as compared to the traditional procedure.
• It reduces the risk of infections and complications with a high success rate.