Ice hockey is a full contact sport that is played by adults and youth. The combined speed of the game and icy conditions create an atmosphere that is injury prone. Even with protective gear, injuries can and do happen regularly. One of the most common injuries inflicted in hockey is a shoulder dislocation. A shoulder can be dislocated anteriorly or posteriorly to the joint. Anterior dislocations are more common and result when the head of the upper arm comes out the socket and is anterior to the joint.
Anatomy
Dislocated shoulders happen at the glenohumeral joint. The glenohumeral joint is the space that connects the upper arm to the scapula of the shoulder. Holding the shoulder in place is an array of ligaments and muscles. If the ligaments or muscles are injured, instability of the joint space can occur. This creates an environment that is susceptible to shoulder dislocations. For hockey players, the ligaments or muscles are usually injured at the time of the dislocation.
Cause
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 86 percent of hockey injuries are caused by body checking. This is the practice of running into another hockey player in an attempt to create unsteadiness and give you an advantage of puck control. Getting shoved into, or running into, the boards also commonly causes shoulder dislocations. Any direct blows to the shoulder, or falling on an outstretched hand, can end in a dislocation.
Treatment
If your hockey facility has trained staff on board, many dislocations can be put back into place by them. Otherwise, they will reduce the shoulder injury by pulling on your arm or applying traction against the shoulder. This will pull the head of the upper arm out and away and allow for the doctor to push it back into place. It is important that the doctor know if the shoulder is posteriorly or anteriorly displaced, so radiographic images may need to be taken. Once the shoulder is in place, a sling or immobilizer will need to be worn. In some cases, the ligaments involved may have been severely injured and surgery might be required to fix them.
Safety
Shoulder dislocations can not always be prevented, but there are safety steps you can follow to better your chances of staying injury free. Get a health screening before you begin play to make sure that you are healthy enough to withstand the rigors of hockey. Stay involved with training programs and participate in stretches prior to play. Always wear the correct safety gear and follow the rules of the game. Learn body checking techniques that will keep you and others safe.
References
- NYU Langone Medical Center Department of Pediatrics; Shoulder Dislocation; September 2010
- Hospital for Special Surgery; Shoulder Separation and Dislocation: An Overview; Frank A. Cordasco, MD, MS; August 2008
- "Pediatrics"; Safety in Youth Ice Hockey: The Effects of Body Checking; March 2000
- Stop Sports Injuries: Hockey Injuries
