Sports Medicine - Shoulder

Shoulder Separation

Definition:

A shoulder separation occurs when the ligaments connecting the clavicle (collar bone) and the acromion (part of the shoulder blade) tear and separate. A separation can occur while sustaining a blow to the point of the shoulder (eg. falling onto the point of the shoulder). There are different classifications of shoulder separations based on the amount of separation between the clavicle and acromion.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis of a shoulder separation requires a physician taking a careful history and performing a physical examination. During the examination there is often a painful and palpable "bump" over the separation. X-rays are helpful in determining the degree of separation between the clavicle and the acromion and assessing alignment and degree of arthritis.

Treatment Options:

The treatment of lesser degrees of shoulder separation include placing the affected arm in a sling or a restraining device called a shoulder immobilizer. Pain medication by mouth are often needed for comfort. In the more severe shoulder separations, especially in young active people, surgery may be required to restore the original anatomic acromio-clavicular joint that is injured. In either operative or nonoperative treatment, physical therapy will likely be prescribed to help restore shoulder motion and strength after a few weeks of immobilization.