Dislocations

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Basics

• Summary
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

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• Images

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

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.

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Dislocation: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Shoulder Instability (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Jaw Dislocation (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish

Images

• Creating a sling - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dislocations (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Treatment of the terrible triad of the elbow by olecranon osteotomy:...
• Article: Comparison of robot-assisted versus fluoroscopically guided treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation in...
• Article: Comparison of Glisson traction, soft or rigid cervical collars for the...
• Dislocations -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

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

Patient Handouts

• Dislocated shoulder - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dislocation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Kneecap dislocation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Kneecap dislocation - aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Nursemaid's elbow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish