The Definition Of Joint Dislocation And How Common The Injury Is
A joint dislocation is defined as the separation of two bones at the point where they meet in a joint. Your joints are the systems, which are in place to connect bones, so when this connection is interrupted, that is when a dislocation has occurred.
Joint dislocation is common as it may occur in almost any joint in the body. They are also caused by several factors, which is another reason they can happen so frequently.
In fact, one of the most common types of dislocations occurs at the shoulder[1]. It is one of the most common types of dislocation because the shoulder allows the arm to move in many directions, unlike the knee or ankle.
What Causes Joint Dislocation?
There are several factors that contribute to joint dislocation. Of course, regular physical activity and accidents while playing sports, working out, or even being on the job can cause a dislocation with one false move.
Any sort of trauma or impact that pops the bone out of place may cause joint dislocation. For this reason, car accidents are another common cause of this type of injury. However, other factors play into the likelihood that you may suffer, such as dislocation.
Weakened tendons and muscles can also increase your risk of joint dislocation. The muscles and tendons around the joint support it and make sure the bones are protected. When the muscles and tendons become weak due to age, malnutrition, or lack of exercise, it is more likely that dislocation will occur at some point.
5 Common Symptoms Of Joint Dislocation
Following a joint dislocation, you will likely feel very sharp and sudden pain. However, sometimes this injury does not produce immediate or extreme pain. Some dislocations are a lot more subtle and hard to detect.
In fact, you may not even know that you have suffered a dislocation and are in need of joint dislocation treatment for a few days. That’s why it’s always important to keep an eye out for the following 5 symptoms if you suspect that one of your joints has become dislocated:
- Prolonged Pain – One of the most common joint dislocation symptoms is immediate pain, but sometimes, it could be a duller pain that lasts for a long time.
- Compromised Range of Motion – If you feel like you have lost mobility in one of your joints from one day to the next, you may be dealing with a joint dislocation.
- Discolored Skin – Sometimes, joint dislocation symptoms will include bruising or discoloration of the skin around the affected joint. It is often caused by damaged blood vessels at the point of impact or trauma.
- Visible Deformation – In some cases, you will be able to see that the joint is out of place or deformed in some way.
- Swelling or Numbness – The swelling or numbness that you may feel in the actual area of your body may also cause Joint dislocation symptoms in the affected joint.
How Joint Dislocations Are Treated?
Depending on the joint that has been displaced and the types of joint dislocation symptoms you are experiencing, your Orthopedists may choose to treat it in different ways, including:
- Replacing – In this situation, the doctor would manipulate the joint in such a way as to place the bone back in it properly. After the replacement, you may still feel soreness, tenderness, or even pain in the joint as the tissues will need time to heal.
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Surgical Procedures – In rare cases in which the joint dislocation causes are chronic, blood vessels have been severely damaged, or the joint has not responded well to other forms of treatment, surgery may be required to correct the issue.
- RICE – RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation and may be all you need for joint dislocation treatment.
- Splinting – You might need to wear a splint[2] to keep the joint immobilized after the bone has been put back into place. Immobilization may be required for the joint to completely heal.
Risk Factors For Joint Dislocation
- Being over the age of 65.
- Regularly engaging in contact sports.
- Hereditary conditions that weaken the joints.
- Having a poor diet devoid of nutrients beneficial to bones and joints.
A Look At Different Joint Dislocations
- Thumb – Thumb joint dislocation causes may include when the thumb is bent back too far from its regular position.
- Pinky Finger – Pinky finger dislocation is somewhat common because this is one of the fingers on the perimeter of the hand.
- Jaw – Jaw Joint dislocation causes include when the jaw is separated from the skull by one or both attaching joints.
- Wrist – Wrist dislocations can occur at the midcarpal joint, radiocarpal, radioulnar joint, or all three points.
FAQs
It will always depend on the joint dislocation causes and the severity of the dislocation. Some people have said that certain bone breaks have been more painful than dislocations, while others have claimed that dislocations are more painful than breaks.
In general, this type of injury will take 6 to 12 weeks[3] to heal thoroughly. Of course, there are a number of factors that can help speed up or slow down the time of healing, such as age, the severity of the dislocation, and the specific joint that has been affected.
It will depend on the joint dislocation symptoms you could feel in your knee, and the cap may reposition itself.
Yes. Rib dislocation tends to be extremely painful, and joint dislocation treatment for this specific type of injury may be specialized. This type of dislocation usually involves the rib popping out of the joint.
Conclusion
Even though there are many joint dislocation causes, which may make it scary to be active as you want to be, it’s important to note that these injuries are often minor and that you will more than likely be able to make a full recovery from them.
Should you suffer this kind of injury, it is always important that you get the right kind of joint dislocation treatment as soon as possible.
