Closed reduction for a dislocated shoulder

A clinician uses controlled movements, often after providing pain relief or sedation, and then checks the arm's circulation, sensation, movement and joint alignment. The shoulder is usually supported afterward while the injured tissues begin to settle.

A shoulder dislocation occurs when the upper arm bone comes out of its socket. During closed reduction, the clinician positions the body and applies gentle, directed force to restore the joint relationship. Imaging may be used before or after the manoeuvre to look for an associated fracture and confirm alignment. Reduction can relieve the deformity and marked pain, but the surrounding capsule, ligaments, tendons or nerves may still be injured.

Wear the sling or support as instructed and follow the prescribed plan for pain medicine and movement. Keep the fingers, wrist and elbow moving if your clinician says this is safe, but do not test the shoulder by lifting, reaching or forcing it through pain. Follow-up assesses healing, strength and stability. Physiotherapy commonly progresses from protected motion to shoulder-blade control and strengthening according to the injury and your response.

Do not try to push a visibly dislocated shoulder back yourself. Seek emergency care after a new deformity or injury, especially if the hand is cold, pale or blue, the pulse feels weak, or numbness and weakness are developing. After reduction, return promptly for worsening pain, renewed deformity, increasing swelling, loss of feeling, fever, or fingers that become difficult to move. These findings can indicate another dislocation or a problem affecting a bone, nerve or blood vessel.

Ask whether imaging showed a fracture or soft-tissue injury, how long to use the sling, and which movements are currently restricted. Clarify when rehabilitation should start, when work, driving and sport may resume, and what to do if the shoulder feels as though it may slip again. Repeated instability may change the discussion about imaging, rehabilitation or stabilisation surgery.