The initial treatment of a separated shoulder consists of controlling the inflammation, and resting the joint. The early steps of treatment should consist of:
- Icing the Injury
The inflammation from a separated shoulder can be controlled with ice placed on the joint every four hours for a period of 15 minutes. Icing can be done for the first several days until the swelling around the joint has subsided. - Rest the AC joint
A sling to rest the joint can be worn until the pain has subsided and you can begin some simple exercises. Resting the joint will help minimize painful symptoms and allow healing to begin. - Anti-inflammatory Medication
Anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil or Motrin will also help to minimize the pain and inflammation--check with your doctor before using these medications.
Is surgery ever needed for treatment of a shoulder separation?
Yes, but not in most cases. Type I and type II shoulder separations are by far the most common types of separated shoulders, and these types of injuries rarely need surgery--and only if there are problems with non-operative treatment.
Type IV, V, and VI shoulder separations almost always require surgery, but these are very uncommon injuries. The difficult decisions arise with patients with a type III shoulder separation. There is controversy among orthopedic surgeons as to how to best manage patients with a type III shoulder separation. In the end, there is no 'right answer,' but there are some factors to consider when making this decision.
- Non-surgical treatment for type III shoulder separations...
Most evidence suggests that patients with type III shoulder separations do just as well without surgery, and avoid the potential risks of surgical treatment. These patients return to sports and work faster than patients who have surgery for this type of injury. - Surgery for type III shoulder separations...
Recent studies have suggested that some athletes and heavy laborers may benefit from early surgical treatment of type III shoulder separations. These include athletes who participate in sports that require overhead throwing such as baseball. The potential benefit of early surgical treatment for type III shoulder separations remains unproven.
How is surgery for a shoulder separation performed?
There are dozens of different surgical procedures that have been described for the treatment of a separated shoulder. These surgeries attempt to stabilize the end of the clavicle in its proper position. Unfortunately, there are potential complications of surgery that make this simple idea a difficult task.
Most surgical procedures for treatment of a shoulder separation attempt to reconstruct the important coracoclavicular ligament, and temporarily hold the clavicle in position while the reconstructed ligament heals. A commonly performed procedure uses the nearby coracoacromial ligament, and moves it over to the clavicle. The clavicle is held in position with strong sutures or a metal screw while the ligament is healing into position.
What are the complications of shoulder separation surgery?
Complications of surgery for a shoulder separation include:
- Loss of reduction of the clavicle (does not stay in proper position)
- Clavicle fracture
- Infection
- Painful scar
- Deltoid/Trapezius muscle detachment
Last updated: 03/20/2006
References:
- Clarke HD, McCann PD. "[link url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve
