Health condition · Clinically reviewed
Dislocated shoulder, urgent reduction, structured rehab - and when to stabilise.
The most commonly dislocated large joint, with two peaks - young men in sport and older adults after falls. Reduction is only the first step.
Why trust this guide
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Clinically reviewed
Written by our editorial team and reviewed by a registered UK clinician before publication.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against BOA, BESS and peer-reviewed sources you can see at the end.
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Current for 2026
Reflects modern UK shoulder-instability practice, including arthroscopic Bankart repair and the Latarjet procedure.
Key facts
A dislocated shoulder at a glance.
The essentials, in plain English - what it is, how common it is, and how it is treated in the UK today.
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What it is
A dislocated shoulder is a glenohumeral joint dislocation, where the ball of the humerus comes out of the shallow socket of the scapula.
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How common
The shoulder is the most commonly dislocated large joint in the body, with two peaks - young men in sport and older adults after falls.
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Direction
Around 95 per cent are anterior. Posterior dislocations follow seizures or electric shocks and inferior (luxatio erecta) is rare.
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Recurrence
Young patients under 20 have very high recurrence rates without surgery, sometimes reaching 90 per cent.
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Immediate care
Urgent closed reduction in A&E under analgesia and sedation, with neurovascular checks before and after.
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Definitive plan
Sling and early physiotherapy for most, arthroscopic Bankart repair or Latarjet for recurrent instability or significant bone loss.
Why this guide matters
Reduction is only the first step.
A dislocated shoulder is one of the most common orthopaedic emergencies in the UK - but the plan afterwards is what shapes long-term function.
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Neurovascular checks are non-negotiable
Axillary nerve function and distal pulses are documented before and after reduction - iatrogenic injury is preventable.
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X-rays before and after
Three-view X-rays confirm the direction and rule out fractures - post-reduction films confirm success and pick up new fractures.
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Recurrence risk drives the plan
The younger the patient, the higher the risk of another dislocation - and the stronger the argument for early stabilisation.
How the diagnosis is made
From injury to a clear plan.
The steps a UK A&E clinician and shoulder specialist will normally follow, in order - so you know what to expect and why.
Phase 1 · Assessing
History, examination and neurovascular check
Phase 2 · Confirming
X-rays before and after reduction
Phase 3 · Planning
MRI arthrogram or CT if needed
- 01
Assessing
Mechanism and pain history
A structured history - fall on outstretched hand, sports collision, seizure or electric shock - points to the direction of dislocation.
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Assessing
Neurovascular examination
Axillary nerve function (deltoid, regimental badge sensation) and distal pulses documented before any reduction.
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Assessing
Look, feel, move
Loss of the deltoid contour, a prominent acromion and the arm held abducted and externally rotated point to anterior dislocation.
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Confirming
X-ray - three views
AP, lateral scapular Y and axillary views confirm dislocation and rule out fracture before any reduction is attempted.
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Confirming
Post-reduction imaging
Repeat X-rays confirm the joint is back and screen for greater tuberosity, Hill-Sachs or Bankart fractures.
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Planning
MRI arthrogram
For recurrent instability or patients over 40, MRI arthrogram maps the labrum, Bankart lesion, Hill-Sachs defect and rotator cuff.
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Planning
CT if bone loss suspected
Selective CT quantifies glenoid or humeral bone loss when a Latarjet procedure is being considered.
Typical timeline: reduction on the day, definitive plan within a few weeks.
Symptoms
What a dislocated shoulder actually looks like.
The classic mix of severe pain, an arm held in a fixed position and loss of shoulder contour - plus the features that mean it is time to escalate.
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Severe sudden pain
An unmistakable pain at the moment of injury - most patients cannot move the arm at all.
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Arm held in a fixed position
In anterior dislocation the arm is held slightly abducted and externally rotated, supported by the other hand.
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Loss of deltoid contour
The rounded shoulder outline is replaced by a squared-off look, with a prominent acromion.
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Inability to move the shoulder
Any attempt at movement is guarded, painful and usually impossible.
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Numbness over the outer shoulder
Loss of sensation in the regimental badge area suggests axillary nerve injury and needs documenting.
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Weakness lifting the arm
After reduction, weakness in abduction may reflect axillary nerve injury or a rotator cuff tear, especially over 40.
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Recurrent giving way
A sensation the shoulder is about to slip out with overhead activity - the hallmark of chronic instability.
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Red flag - cold, pulseless limb
A cold, pale or pulseless arm after injury suggests axillary artery injury and needs immediate specialist review.
Treatment
How a dislocated shoulder is treated in the UK.
Urgent reduction, structured rehabilitation and - for recurrent instability - arthroscopic Bankart repair or a Latarjet procedure.
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Analgesia and sedation
Adequate pain relief and procedural sedation in A&E allow safe closed reduction without excessive force.
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Closed reduction
Kocher, Stimson, Hippocratic, Milch or Cunningham techniques - all restore the joint under controlled conditions.
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Post-reduction sling
A broad arm sling for one to three weeks protects the joint while soft tissues settle.
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Early physiotherapy
Guided rehabilitation restores range of motion, rotator cuff strength and scapular control.
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Arthroscopic Bankart repair
Keyhole re-attachment of the labrum to the glenoid rim - the mainstay of surgery for recurrent anterior instability. See our guide to arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation.
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Latarjet procedure
A bone-block procedure that transfers part of the coracoid to the glenoid - used when significant bone loss makes soft-tissue repair unreliable.
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Rotator cuff repair
In patients over 40 with a torn cuff following dislocation, repair restores strength and reduces long-term dysfunction.
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Return-to-sport programme
Graduated loading, sport-specific drills and objective return-to-play criteria - not just a fixed time from injury.
What this guide is based on
The sources behind every claim on this page.
UK national guidance and specialist society standards, current at the time of last review.
Key references
Guidelines and standards we relied on.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your emergency clinician or shoulder surgeon knows your injury and history, and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, get seen.
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British Orthopaedic Association (BOA). Standards for shoulder trauma.
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British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS). Patient information on shoulder instability.
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NICE. Assessment and non-surgical management of shoulder instability.
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Royal College of Emergency Medicine. Best practice on shoulder dislocation reduction.
Red flags
When a dislocated shoulder needs urgent attention.
Most dislocations are managed successfully in A&E. These are the situations that need extra care and a specialist opinion.
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Cold, pale or pulseless arm
Suggests axillary artery injury - a vascular emergency needing immediate specialist input alongside reduction.
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Complete axillary nerve palsy
A dense loss of deltoid function or regimental badge sensation after reduction warrants urgent orthopaedic review.
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Fracture-dislocation
Displaced greater tuberosity, humeral head or glenoid fractures change the plan - specialist reduction and often surgery are needed.
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Irreducible dislocation
Failure of closed reduction under sedation needs specialist orthopaedic management, sometimes in theatre.
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Posterior dislocation missed
Easy to miss on a single AP film after a seizure or electric shock - always check axillary or scapular Y views.
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Recurrent instability under 25
Very high re-dislocation risk without surgery - early specialist referral for stabilisation is often the right call.
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Suspected rotator cuff tear over 40
Persistent weakness after reduction in older patients needs MRI and specialist assessment for repair.
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Neurovascular change after reduction
Any new numbness, weakness or vascular change following reduction is a red flag for iatrogenic injury.
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Chronic missed dislocation
A dislocation left in place for weeks needs specialist planning, not routine A&E reduction.
Living with it
A treatable injury, with a clear ladder.
Four things that make the biggest difference after a shoulder dislocation - respect the sling window, do the rehab, return to sport by criteria, and do not accept repeat dislocations.
A quiet reminder
Rehabilitation is where outcomes are won.
Rotator cuff and scapular strength, kept up over months, protect the joint more reliably than any single event on the day.
- 01 Recovery
Respect the sling window
The first few weeks in a sling are not wasted time - they let the capsule and labrum begin to settle.
- 02 Rehab
Do the physiotherapy
Rotator cuff and scapular strengthening are what protect the joint long-term, more than any single operation.
- 03 Sport
Return by criteria, not calendar
Objective strength, range and confidence tests matter more than a fixed number of weeks off.
- 04 Escalate
Do not accept repeat dislocations
If the shoulder keeps popping out, a specialist shoulder surgeon can offer stabilisation - it is not something to live with.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about a dislocated shoulder.
Quick answers on reduction, sling time, physiotherapy, Bankart repair and the Latarjet procedure.
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What is a dislocated shoulder?
A dislocated shoulder is a glenohumeral dislocation - the ball of the humerus comes out of the shallow socket on the shoulder blade. Around 95 per cent are anterior, following a fall on an outstretched hand, a sports injury or a direct blow.
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How is a dislocated shoulder put back?
In A&E, under adequate pain relief and often light sedation, using a technique such as Kocher, Stimson, Hippocratic, Milch or Cunningham. Neurovascular checks are done before and after, and X-rays confirm the joint is back before the sling goes on.
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Do I need surgery after a first dislocation?
Most first-time dislocations are treated without surgery - a sling for one to three weeks and early physiotherapy. Younger patients, especially those in contact sports, are at very high risk of recurrence and may be offered arthroscopic stabilisation earlier.
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What is a Bankart lesion?
A Bankart lesion is a tear of the labrum and capsule off the front of the glenoid, caused by anterior dislocation. It is the most common structural cause of recurrent instability and is repaired arthroscopically in a Bankart procedure.
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When is a Latarjet procedure needed?
A Latarjet procedure is considered when there is significant glenoid or humeral bone loss, or when a previous Bankart repair has failed. It transfers part of the coracoid bone to the front of the glenoid, giving a bony block against re-dislocation.
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Why does age matter after a dislocation?
Under 20, the main risk is recurrent instability from labral injury. Over 40, the shoulder is more likely to tear the rotator cuff at the moment of dislocation, so MRI and specialist assessment are important if weakness persists after reduction.
Related content
Keep reading.
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Frozen shoulder
Painful stiffness after injury or immobilisation.
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Elbow fracture
Related upper-limb injury from a fall.
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Elbow and shoulder osteoarthritis
Long-term joint wear after recurrent instability.
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Brachial plexus injury
Nerve injury after major shoulder trauma.
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Chronic pain
When shoulder pain persists after injury.
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Cortisone injection - large joint
Targeted anti-inflammatory injection for the shoulder.
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Physiotherapy clinic
Structured rehabilitation after dislocation.
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Private MRI scan
Detailed imaging of the labrum and rotator cuff.
Learn more