As Kamal (name changed), a 23-year-old football player, can attest, dislocating your shoulders can be incredibly painful. "I was on the field having a typical day when an opponent smashed into me. I fell on my shoulder and immediately felt excruciating pain in my left shoulder," Kamal recalls.
“Shoulder dislocation is a very common injury seen among sportspeople especially those involved in contact sports like football, wrestling, boxing, etc,” notes Dr. Dr. Banarji. B.H. He is India’s most sought-after shoulder surgeon and one of the top specialists at the Dr. Banarji Shoulder Center in Bengaluru.
Kamal's coach correctly identified the problem as a dislocated shoulder immediately after the fall and proceeded to put it back in place himself. The pain went away immediately, and neither Kamal nor his coach gave the problem another thought. Kamal returned to practice within 2-3 days after resting and icing his shoulder for the remainder of the game. However, Kamal dislocated his shoulder again within a few months. He was not even playing this time. "I was in the bus, clutching the pole, when a sudden braking yanked me forward, dislocating my right shoulder for the second time," Kamal explains. "I got it back in by myself, but my shoulder felt very weak, and I began to experience pain down my arm." Following that, Kamal dislocated his shoulders three more times, necessitating a visit to an orthopedic specialist.
After conducting a detailed examination, Dr. Banarji realized that Kamal’s continuous shoulder dislocations have resulted in a bankart lesion that cannot be managed by physiotherapy alone. “The labrum is the fibrous tissue that surrounds the socket and helps stabilize the shoulder joint. when there is a tear in the labrum in the anterior joint it is known as a bankart lesion that requires surgical intervention,” explains Dr. Banarji.
Dr. Banarji suggested arthroscopic surgery to remedy the torn labrum, thereby improving the stability of the shoulder and preventing further shoulder dislocations. During the surgery, the torn labrum is tightened, and refixes any torn tendons to the socket. “Arthroscopic surgery is highly recommended in treating a dislocated shoulder and associated problems because the recovery is quicker and better,” says Dr. Banarji. The Arthroscopic/keyhole surgery also causes less scarring and post-operative complications.
Kamal's shoulder was sling-bound for a month after the arthroscopic surgery. The rehabilitation process then began, which included exercises to improve mobility and strength in the shoulders. Kamal complied completely with Dr. Banarji's instructions. "Movement of my shoulder was difficult for the first few days. However, I stuck to my exercises and physiotherapy and soon saw improvement," Kamal says. Kamal had been out of commission for a year following the arthroscopic surgery for his dislocated shoulder. He is now back on the field and has not had another shoulder dislocation since.
"It is not advisable to put your dislocated shoulder back in place without expert supervision. It may appear simple, but if not done correctly, it can cause permanent and long-term damage to your shoulders," warns Dr. Banarji.
CONTACT US
Dr. Banarji Shoulder Center
3/4, 8th Main (Water Tank Road), CHBS Layout, Vijayanagar, Bangalore - 560 040.
Emergency: 9731274396
Appointment Mob:7760659606, +91 78297 23606
Email:drbanarji@orthobangalore.com
