Child Dislocated Shoulder

On this page

• What has happened?
• What should I expect?
• What should I do?
• What should I not do?
• Will I be followed up?
• What if I have concerns/questions?

What has happened?

• Your child has a dislocated/disrupted shoulder - this means the upper arm bone has moved out of its joint
• As shoulders are generally very mobile, this is a common injury in the young
• The shoulder will have now been put back into place by Emergency Department (ED) staff

What should I expect?

• Your child will likely need to wear a sling for 6 weeks
• During this time, your child may need simple pain-relief such as paracetamol

What should I do?

• After six weeks you can remove the sling completely - you do not need to see a doctor before doing this

What should I not do?

• It is important to avoid putting your shoulder into any extreme positions for the first several weeks after your injury

Will I be followed up?

• No, most of these injuries do not require you to return to hospital

What if I have concerns/questions?

• If you have problems with the rehabilitation of you shoulder, you should see your GP first - take your ACC form/number with you
• If your shoulder does not settle or if you have another dislocation, then your GP or physio may refer you to an orthopaedic specialist who will decide if you need surgery