Shoulder dislocation in children: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Le Thanh Cam - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

A pediatric shoulder dislocation is a common injury in children under the age of 5. A pediatric shoulder dislocation occurs when the radial bone of the arm below the elbow dislocates from the humerus. Children are very easy to dislocate the shoulder during activities. The condition of children with shoulder dislocation causes pain and requires proper care from parents.

A shoulder dislocation in children is a condition in which the head of the humerus is no longer in contact with the humerus after an injury. Shoulder dislocation or recurrent dislocation of the shoulder is a repetitive dislocation of the shoulder under the influence of a traumatic force when the shoulder is in a certain position, most often the shoulder is in the external rotation position.
In children, bone structure is stronger than ligaments, so even a normal concussion increases the risk of dislocation of the shoulder. On the other hand, in children, the marginal cartilage that attaches to the alveolar bone is a weak point, so when dislocating the shoulder, the cartilage is often peeled away from the socket.

The cause of shoulder dislocation in children is mainly due to:
Falling: Falling when running, jumping, playing, maybe falling from the stairs or when the floor is slippery. Traffic accidents: Accidents while participating in traffic are also common causes of shoulder dislocation in children. Shoulder dislocation occurs when the baby is pulled suddenly: This usually happens to children under 5 years old when they are pulled suddenly and strongly by the hand, or when they are pulled up with only one hand, or when the baby is pulled. when the baby is about to fall.

Usually, a child with a dislocated shoulder will cry immediately, or be unable to use the dislocated arm to grasp or do anything else.
Here are some symptoms that indicate a dislocated shoulder in a child, parents need to be aware of:
Shoulder swelling Darkening of the dislocated shoulder Redness Shoulder deformity Pain Difficulty moving the shoulder or arm Loss sensation in the arm or neck Muscle spasms in the shoulder As soon as these signs are detected, the mother should take the baby to the hospital or medical center for examination immediately.

The dislocated joint can be pulled and put back in place by a doctor. Your child will be in pain, but only for a moment. X-rays are not needed in these cases.
The child will be tested to see if the arm can be used normally again without pain or discomfort. Usually, most children are able to move and use their hands normally soon after receiving treatment, but sometimes it takes a longer time to recover. The longer a child has a shoulder dislocation, the slower the recovery time will be. And the child may have to take pain medication.

If the shoulder joint is dislocated, but the arm cannot be pulled back to normal, the child will need an X-ray to check for any broken bones.
If the child has recurrent dislocation of the shoulder, surgical intervention may be needed to completely treat the condition. Early surgery for recurrent shoulder dislocations will bring better results than leaving too long with too many dislocations. Therefore, parents should pay attention to early examination and treatment for their children if there is a shoulder dislocation at the age of under 18.

Usually, after treatment, the child is able to function and use his hands normally immediately and can be discharged from the hospital for home care. Therefore, parents should note:
Make sure your child wears a bandage or shoulder brace provided by the doctor. Give your child the medicine as prescribed, with the exact amount prescribed. Apply ice to the child's dislocated shoulder every 1–2 hours for the next 3 days (10 to 20 minutes at a time). Note: Use ice wrapped towels to avoid burning your baby's skin. After the first 3 days, switch to using a hot pack to relieve the pain, 15 to 20 minutes at a time. If the doctor has given your child some exercises to do at home, encourage the child to do exactly what the doctor instructs. Keep an eye on your child to make sure he's not doing anything to make the condition worse. When the child has the following signs, parents need to take the child to the hospital immediately:
The child has difficulty breathing, the child uses the abdominal muscles to breathe. When the child breathes, the chest sinks or the nostrils widen. Children are very sleepy and not easy to wake up. Children may lose consciousness. Children have nausea or vomiting more often. The pain became more intense. The child's hands are cold and discolored. Tingling, weakness, or numbness in the arm, hand or fingers The child's shoulder is dislocated again. The child's condition did not improve as expected.

When a child has a dislocated shoulder, parents need to immediately take the child to a medical facility for timely treatment to restore the child's hand function. Avoiding the situation for too long will make it difficult to treat later.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are 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. upon reaching adulthood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - craniofacial surgery, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 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 have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.