Habitual dislocation - what is it? By this concept, doctors mean multiple exit of the bone from the joint. At first it seems that such a state is not at all dangerous, because it is very easy to eliminate the problem. However, in fact, with regular dislocations, the risk of a variety of complications increases significantly.
Causes of pathology
In the vast majority of all cases, the usual shoulder dislocation occurs. Although pathology can affect other joints: jaw, elbow, patella.
The reasons for the usual dislocation can be a huge amount.
- Serious damage. It can be a fall from a high altitude, a traffic accident, a strong blow. It is injuries that cause dislocations in most of all cases.
- Sprain. Such a pathology gradually leads to the fact that damaged ligaments simply cease to cope with their main function - maintaining bones and joints.
- Muscle dystrophy. In the same way as in the case of ligaments, the muscles lose their normal tone, because of which the joints can even move.
- Osteoarthrosis. This ailment is characterized by a weakening of the structure of the joints.
- Abnormal structure of the head of the bone. Such a phenomenon may be congenital or a consequence of a previous injury.
- Reinforced loads. Exercise is often the cause of a habitual dislocation, especially if they were used during the rehabilitation period after an operation or illness.
- All kinds of inflammatory processes, covering joints and bones.
- Pathology of fetal development.
Habitual dislocation is much more common among men. Moreover, to a greater extent, strangely enough, young people are exposed to him.
Symptoms of a habitual dislocation
Despite the fact that this pathology can affect different parts of the body, its symptoms are almost similar. Usually, patients independently determine the presence of repeated dislocation.
Shoulder injury
A habitual dislocation in this case involves the exit of the head of the bone from the cavity of the joint. Most often, the pathology appears in those who have already suffered a serious injury and reduction procedure. With such damage, the patient may not feel pain at all, or it may be mild. But there can be no severe pain with repeated dislocation.
In addition, puffiness that appears in the damaged area can be distinguished from the obvious symptoms. Joint extension problems may also occur.
If a person has already encountered such a problem, then, most likely, he will independently identify it. It is also worth saying that in addition to dislocation, a milder form of pathology can develop - joint instability. In such a situation, the head of the bone does not completely exit the cavity, but only peeks out slightly. In this case, the person feels slight discomfort, there is a feeling that the joint is not located correctly.
The more often the dislocation will occur, the more the joint structure will collapse. If the victim ignores the symptoms of pathology, they will gradually intensify, causing discomfort.
- Constant aching pain. When trying to lift something heavy or perform an exercise, the sensations will be more intense.
- The occurrence of a characteristic click or crunch with mobility of the shoulder.
- The appearance of unusual weakness in the hand. This phenomenon is due to the fact that muscles in the damaged area gradually undergo atrophy and dystrophy.
- Limited movement of the hand, a feeling of stiffness.
True, to correct the usual dislocation is not so difficult, so the patient can do it on his own.
Patella damage
After a serious injury in this area, many people eventually develop a habitual dislocation. Most often, this pathology affects patients:
- with pronounced elasticity of ligaments;
- with a previously torn ligament that has not grown correctly;
- with a high located patella.
For a habitual dislocation in this zone it is not at all necessary to have some kind of strong impact, for example, a blow or a fall. It may well happen during ordinary actions.
As in the case of shoulder damage, a patella injury is accompanied by mild pain. Only in this situation do they appear above the knee. In some cases, the pain is completely absent. Then the patient may suspect a problem due to the unstable position of the joint and the accompanying discomfort.
Usually, it is not difficult to rectify the situation, and many victims solve the problem with their own hands. But you should still consult a doctor to determine the causes of dislocation.
Otherwise, with a repeated pathology, the structure of the joints will collapse, which in the future will entail many other diseases.
Jaw dislocation
Such factors can provoke the development of pathology:
- various pathologies concerning the jaw area - epilepsy, rheumatism, encephalitis;
- improper treatment of a usual dislocation;
- disturbances in the endocrine system;
- malocclusion;
- defects in the structure of the jaw itself;
- dental manipulations.
If the clinical picture is running, a habitual dislocation can occur even at the moment of yawning or screaming.
The main signs of damage
Most often, the pathology does not manifest itself, but sometimes patients still complain of some symptoms.
- Crunch in the affected area when opening the mouth or chewing. In this case, the jaw itself moves in a zigzag pattern.
- Frequent dull pains that become more intense when chewing food. Sometimes she gives to the temple area, the back of the head and the area behind the ears.
- When opening the mouth, the jaw moves to the side.
To treat a habitual dislocation of the jaw, an operation is required, which is aimed at reducing the length of the ligaments or reducing the displaced bone.
Diagnostics
Detect the usual dislocation can: orthopedist, traumatologist, surgeon. First of all, the doctor examines the victim. During the examination, a suspected diagnosis is most often confirmed. But for its completeness, nevertheless, the patient is recommended to undergo an examination.
- Roentgenography. In the picture, you can examine in detail the abnormal placement of the joint. For a more accurate result, an x-ray is done from several angles.
- MRI and CT. These techniques are used in situations where it is necessary to evaluate the structure of bone tissue and related muscles. In addition, tomography is indicated for patients with complex dislocations in which bone fragments remain inside.
- Arthroscopy This procedure provides an opportunity to evaluate the condition of the joint in detail. Arthroscopy is needed not so much to diagnose a dislocation as to determine its initial causes.
All other procedures are assigned to patients individually.
How to treat the usual dislocations
Therapy begins immediately after a full examination and confirmation of the proposed diagnosis. Treatment of a habitual dislocation of a joint depends on the features of its structure, the state of the body and the nature of the damage. There are only two treatment options: conservative and surgical. Treatment of dislocation without surgical intervention, of course, is more preferable, but it is far from effective in all cases.
Conservative therapy
Such treatment can be recommended to a person who has had no more than two or three dislocations. Otherwise, it is impossible to do without surgical intervention.
Conservative therapy involves an integrated approach. It consists of several basic procedures.
- Sessions of manual and therapeutic massage. Such procedures not only eliminate muscle tension, but also contribute to improved blood flow in the area of damage.
- Physiotherapy. The systematic implementation of special exercises makes it possible to strengthen muscles and significantly increase the elasticity of tendons and ligaments. This technique is very often used to treat the usual dislocation of the patella.
- Reflexology. For most people, this procedure is known as acupuncture. Today it is no secret to anyone that due to the impact on specific points of the body, it is possible to significantly accelerate the process of tissue repair and improve the condition of the whole organism.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures. One of the most important components of complex therapy. Physiotherapeutic procedures are used to accelerate the recovery of injured tissues and improve blood flow.
In addition, the treatment can be supplemented with certain medications, at the discretion of the doctor. Most often, in such cases, doctors recommend vitamin complexes, anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants.
Surgical intervention
Most often, patients with a diagnosis of "habitual dislocation" are prescribed an operation. There are several different surgical techniques. The choice of a particular technique is made, depending on the initial causes of the habitual dislocation.
The operation may be aimed at:
- strengthening muscles and ligaments;
- change in the structure of the joint;
- implant placement;
- a combination of several techniques described.
Most often, surgical intervention for dislocation of the shoulder, elbow, patella is carried out according to the method of Bankart. The essence of this operation is to fix the head of the bone by strengthening the capsule and cartilage.
Features
There are two ways to perform surgical intervention with a habitual dislocation.
- The classic operation. With this technique, the surgeon cuts the soft tissue with a scalpel. Such an intervention provides the doctor with the maximum possible overview and access to damaged structures, but at the same time, the classical method is considered more traumatic. In addition, there is too high a risk of infection and large blood loss.
- Endoscopic surgery. With a habitual dislocation, such an intervention is preferable. In this case, the surgeon makes two small incisions in the soft tissues through which special devices with cameras are inserted. Of course, such an intervention is tolerated by a person much easier. Usually, after such an operation, the patient does not even need to stay in the hospital. It is noteworthy that the risk of infection and bleeding with the endoscopic method of intervention is minimal.
The vast majority of doctors prefer endoscopic surgery with the usual dislocation. It is not difficult to carry out such an intervention on the shoulder joint, patella, jaw, elbow and any other part of the body, especially if the clinic has all the necessary equipment.
Rehabilitation period
This stage is considered as important as the operation itself. So you should not treat the rehabilitation period superficially, in many respects it’s the patient’s recovery. If the victim does not follow all the recommendations, the damage is likely to happen again.
With the usual dislocation of the shoulder after surgery, the restored joint is fixed with the help of a brace or plaster. If the patella is injured, a tight bandage or orthosis is used. After about a month, all supporting devices are removed. From this moment, the period of active development of the damaged joint should begin. For this, the patient is recommended to attend massage sessions, therapeutic exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures.
In each case, the recovery time may be different. But on average, rehabilitation lasts about 4-8 months. Although this depends on the age, gender of the patient and the characteristics of his body.
Probable complications
Acute dislocation of the joints can often lead to quite serious consequences, for example, damage to nerve receptors and blood vessels, but repeated trauma leads to such complications extremely rarely. But despite the fact that the usual dislocation is rarely accompanied by pain and does not pose a great danger, do not forget: it is also capable of causing various complications.
Repeated injuries can sooner or later provoke the development of such problems:
- capsule protrusion;
- rupture of tendons and ligaments;
- destruction of bone tissue;
- atrophy and degeneration of ligaments and muscles.
So do not ignore the pathology - if a habitual dislocation appears, you should definitely consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to identify the initial cause of the anomaly and eliminate it.