A dislocation is an injury that forces the bones in a joint out of position. The cause is usually a fall, a car accident or an injury during contact sports.
Dislocation mostly involves the body's larger joints. The most common site of injury is the shoulder. For young children, the elbow is a common site. Smaller joints, such as the thumbs and fingers, also can be dislocated if bent the wrong way with force.
Show References
- Hip dislocation. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/hip-dislocation. Accessed Sept. 8, 2023.
- Dislocated shoulder. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/dislocated-shoulder. Accessed Sept. 8, 2023.
- Overview of dislocations. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/dislocations/overview-of-dislocations?query=dislocations#. Accessed Sept. 8, 2023.
- Roberts JR, et al., eds. Management of common dislocations. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2019. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Sept. 11, 2023.
- Hyvonen H, et al. Recent trends in children's elbow dislocation with or without a concomitant fracture. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2019; doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2651-8.
March 08, 2024Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-dislocation/basics/art-20056693