Dislocations

Summary

Dislocations are joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position. The cause is often a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing a contact sport. You can dislocate your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw. You can also dislocate your finger and toe joints. Dislocated joints often are swollen, very painful and visibly out of place. You may not be able to move it.

A dislocated joint is an emergency. If you have one, seek medical attention. Treatment depends on which joint you dislocate and the severity of the injury. It might include manipulations to reposition your bones, medicine, a splint or sling, and rehabilitation. When properly repositioned, a joint will usually function and move normally again in a few weeks. Once you dislocate a shoulder or kneecap, you are more likely to dislocate it again. Wearing protective gear during sports may help prevent dislocations.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dislocations National Institutes of Health

Images

• Creating a sling – series — Procedure, part 1 Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Developmental Dislocation (Dysplasia) of the Hip (DDH) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Patient Handouts

• Dislocated shoulder – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Dislocation Medical Encyclopedia
• Kneecap dislocation Medical Encyclopedia
• Kneecap dislocation – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Nursemaid’s elbow Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Dislocation Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Treatments and Therapies

• Dislocation: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Encyclopedia

• How to make a sling Medical Encyclopedia
• Jaw – broken or dislocated Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Jaw Dislocation Merck & Co., Inc.

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Journal Articles

• Dislocations

Related Issues

• Shoulder Instability American Academy of Family Physicians