Dislocation

Overview

The dislocation (luxation) of a joint is often caused by external trauma during an accident or by congenital tissue weakness. It presents e.g. as a painful misalignment with a loss of joint function. The joint must be rested in a pain-free position and cooled. A doctor should be consulted if dislocation is suspected.

Symptoms

Dislocation symptoms differ widely, depending on their location and cause. The following signs occur often, but not always:

• Misalignment (deformity):
  • Axis deviation, twisting and often shortening of the affected part of the limb
  • The familiar contour of a shoulder, elbow or finger has changed
• Loss of function:
  • Active movement of the joint is restricted or impossible
  • Affected extremity has limited use or can't be used at all
• Pain:
  • Tearing or at least overextension of the ligament and joint capsule (can be accompanied by haematoma)
  • Exception: recurring, habitual luxation, no longer painful and doesn't bleed
• Loss of nerve function:
  • Sensitivity (feeling) and/or voluntary movement is affected
  • The accident mechanism itself (traumatic luxation) causes the subluxation or luxation or accompanying injury

Causes and treatment

Causes

• Problem with one or more components of a joint
  • Bony formation of joint
  • Ligaments
  • Epiphysis muscle
• Traumatic luxation
  • Traumatic means related to an accident
  • Blow or fall on the affected bones, combination of twisting and pulling movements, overstretching or overbending
• Spontaneous and habitual luxation
  • Spontaneous dislocations that appear on their own while engaging in everyday activities
  • In particular the shoulder joint and kneecap
  • Congenital joint changes (sagging ligaments, joint surfaces are too flat)
  • Previous luxations that “wore out” the ligaments
• Paralysis-related or paralytic luxation (muscular relaxation)
• Shoulder joint
  • Accounts for 50% of all dislocations
  • Most mobile joint, relatively little stability of its own
  • Tendency to recur (habitual laxation)

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Examination for signs of a fracture, blood flow, motor skills and sensitivity
• X ray (to see if there are additional fractures)
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Possible therapies

• Resetting the joint, sometimes under anaesthesia
• Immobilisation with a rigid bandage for a few days
• Intensive physiotherapy
• Sometimes surgery is needed to prevent future dislocations (for habitual and paralytic luxations)

What can I do myself?

• Rest the joint in as pain-free a position as possible
• Cooling (slows down swelling, which makes subsequent resetting easier)
• Pay attention to your personal limits when doing sport (“don’t overdo it”)
  • Training condition
  • Ability to recover
  • Existing diseases
  • Adapt training programme and equipment

When to see a doctor?

• Every time you suspect a new luxation (the faster it can be treated, the better)

Synonyms

dislocation, luxation, subluxation, habitual luxation, shoulder luxation, kneecap luxation, sprain