Shoulder Instability / Shoulder Dislocation Surgical Treatments
What are the surgical options for shoulder dislocations and shoulder instability?
Surgical options are typically used in cases where patients have had multiple shoulder dislocations or instability events, or when there are injuries to the tissues surrounding the shoulder that require surgery. Most commonly, these are injuries to the labrum.
In most cases, surgery can be performed arthroscopically, using a camera and 3-6 small incisions surrounding the shoulder. This surgical approach can be used to repair the labrum and help tighten the tissues surrounding the shoulder to prevent future dislocations.
In some cases, particularly when there have been many dislocation events, other surgeries may be required. In these cases, the glenoid may be damaged or worn down from repeated dislocations, requiring possible reconstruction of the glenoid using bone, which requires a larger incision in the front of the shoulder.
At a Glance
Dr. Jorge Chahla
- Triple fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon
- Performs over 700 surgeries per year
- Assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University
- Learn more