The ball and socket of the shoulder is the most moveable joint in the body. Because of this, it is also susceptible to dislocation, where the ball slips out of the socket. This is referred to as shoulder instability, which can result from damage to the ligaments or cartilage that hold the shoulder joint in place.

Get Started

Typically associated with athletic injuries or falls, shoulder instability can lead to pain and a feeling that the shoulder joint “gives way” or moves out of place. Damage to surrounding structures can cause the shoulder joint to partially or fully dislocate with certain movements of the arms.

Shoulder Instability: Overview
- Duration 6m

The severity of shoulder instability will help determine treatment. Wearing a shoulder sling and performing shoulder strengthening exercises can help in some cases. With significant shoulder instability, surgery may be needed to stabilize the shoulder joint.

Shoulder Instability: Treatment Options
- Duration 4m

Different types of surgery are available to treat shoulder instability. Often, the cartilage that holds the shoulder joint in place, called the labrum, is repaired and reattached to the shoulder socket. Other cases may require repairing surrounding ligaments or reshaping the bone of the shoulder socket to improve the stability of the shoulder joint.

Surgery for shoulder instability requires incisions be made around the front of the shoulder. The size of the incisions will depend on the surgeon’s technique.