Signs to identify a child with a shoulder dislocation

This is an automatically translated article.

A shoulder dislocation is an injury in which the upper arm bone pops out of the socket, part of the shoulder blade. If you suspect your child has a dislocated shoulder, seek medical attention right away.
In most cases, a child with a shoulder dislocation can regain full shoulder function within a few weeks. However, once a child has dislocated the shoulder, the child's joint can become unstable and prone to recurrent dislocation. So what are the signs to identify a child with a shoulder dislocation?

1. How to know if the child has dislocated shoulder or not?

The shoulder is the most mobile and most frequently dislocated joint in the body. It often occurs in contact sports such as football, basketball, wrestling, and hockey. It can also be dislocated due to a fall when the child is active. The most common is anterior shoulder dislocation.
The child's shoulder can be dislocated in many cases and there are signs such as:
Clearly see the deformity in the child's shoulder area with the naked eye such as dislocated shoulder joint, deformed, visible head Shoulder joints protrude out. The area around the shoulder joint and arm area becomes swollen or hematoma causes bruising. A dislocated shoulder will cause severe pain immediately after a fall, accident or injury while playing. The child's shoulder is not able to move the joint or the child has difficulty moving the arm or shoulder. Trying to move, moving is difficult, making the shoulder pain worse. If a child has a shoulder dislocation, they may also experience numbness, seizures, weakness in the arm, hand, or fingers, or tingling in the arm or neck, or spasms. muscles in the shoulder increase pain intensity.

2. How do children dislocate their shoulder?

A dislocated shoulder is when the small end of the upper arm bone (humerus) slides out of the joint and stretches or tears the supporting ligaments and surrounding muscles. It can be partially dislocated when the head of a part of the humerus is displaced outside the joint or completely out of the joint. The mechanism of injury of shoulder dislocation in children is usually indirect, due to a fall against the arm or against the elbow, the arm is abducted, posteriorly, and externally rotated. When there are other impacts such as shoulder joint with large range of motion, large and shallow crest, weak anterior and inferior capsular ligaments, these impacts will contribute to shoulder dislocation when there is a collision of the shoulder. young.
Some typical cases like when a child slips off the bars and grabs the arm on the bars or when using the swing and is thrown out of the chair, the child supports his arm when there is a fall,... however, here It is not a common injury that occurs in children, but there are cases where children dislocated the shoulder.

3. Should parents arbitrarily re-adjust the shoulder joint?

The answer is no, never try to correct or reposition the joint because this can easily cause further damage to the surrounding tissues, which will make the child's injury worse and more painful. .
If possible, parents support their child's arms and shoulders by wrapping a long piece of cloth around the neck down to the arm to keep the arm from shaking. Then apply a cold compress with a plastic bag filled with ice and clean filtered water to the shoulder area to help reduce pain and swelling and take the child to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment. Children should not be given any other foods or drinks because they may need surgery or sedation. If the parents notice the child has signs of shock, pale skin or skin feels rough, dilated pupils, staring or heart palpitations, etc., quickly bring the child to the facility. nearest medical examination for timely treatment.

4. What will happen at the hospital?

When you go to the hospital or medical facility, a doctor will check the wound, affected area, swelling or deformity, check vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure. It is important for parents to let the doctor know the cause of the dislocation and whether the child has previously dislocated... Then the doctor will examine the child's shoulder to see if an X-ray is needed- X-ray to ensure that the child's bones are not broken in any position. Using an MRI scan can be done to assess the extent of damage to the tissues surrounding the child's wound. The doctor may use additional sedation to calm the child, then return the bones to the proper position and immobilize the arm with a belt, splint, or cast, depending on the injury and the child's general health. . If it is more severe, the bone cannot be repositioned or the damage involves nerves or blood vessels, then surgery is necessary to best treat the child.
The doctor may advise parents to help the child rest at home, apply ice and give the child medicine to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling for the child. In addition, the doctor can instruct the child in special exercises to help him strengthen the surrounding muscles and quickly recover. After 1-2 days, children should do gentle exercises first as directed by the doctor. Immobilizing the shoulder for too long can stiffen a child's joints. In addition, after healing and normal shoulder function, children need to continue daily light exercise such as stretching or turning the shoulder slightly to help improve flexibility and prevent recurrence of dislocation. A doctor or physical therapist can help your child develop an appropriate exercise plan.
In addition, parents also need to pay attention to the activities of children after dislocated shoulder. Children need to reduce activities, because the wound takes a long time to heal, children need to avoid painful movements, limit running and jumping, play sports that require health, have a strong impact on areas in the body. body.

5. How to prevent children from dislocated shoulder?

The first thing is to watch out for situations that can lead to children falling. Use basic safety precautions and watch out for potential hazards such as falls in bathrooms, carpets, stairs or playgrounds, etc. Make sure parents can supervise supervise children, do not leave children alone, even for a short time, can cause children to fall or fall. When children are older, old enough to play sports such as soccer, shuttlecock, badminton, etc., parents should ensure that children have safety protective equipment suitable for that sport. Note that once a child dislocates a shoulder, it is easy for a child to dislocate it again. Therefore, parents should make sure that children only perform exercises for the purpose of strengthening the body and take precautions to protect children from unwanted injuries.
In addition, shoulder dislocation in children is also encountered in cases such as being in a car accident, sleeping in the wrong position (lying a lot), ... are also the causes of shoulder dislocation. Parents can also discuss with the doctor for the best health protection advice for their children.
Shoulder joint is one of the most vulnerable joints for children. Shoulder dislocation often occurs when children play sports such as football, basketball, volleyball or are too active. It should be noted that parents should absolutely not re-align their children's shoulders because this can make the injury more serious, even causing permanent injuries. In addition, to prevent children from dislocating their shoulders, parents need to pay attention to their children while they participate in sports activities or teach them how to wear reasonable protective gear in some sports. especially.
Children in the period from 6 months to 3 years old are very susceptible to respiratory problems, respiratory infections, skin diseases and gastrointestinal infections... parents need special attention attention to the care and provision of adequate nutrition for children. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. With a system of facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers. and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: Including leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctors, Master's degree), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: babycenter.com, adventhealth.com
SEE MORE
Common shoulder pathologies Advantages of shoulder arthroscopy surgery Recurrent shoulder dislocation: What you need to know