Traumatic Shoulder Instability
Overview
Your shoulders support the weight of your upper body, extend your arms, and perform basic lifting and carrying motions. The pressure placed on them makes them susceptible to many different injuries. One such condition is traumatic shoulder instability.
Anatomy
The shoulder is a complex structure. It is a ball and socket joint made up of separate parts, including:
- The primary shoulder joint, connecting the arm and shoulder bones.
- Soft tissues, like ligaments and tendons, which connect larger structures like muscles and bones.
- The rotator cuff, which is responsible for moving your shoulder.
- The shoulder blade bone (the glenoid).
- The long arm bone (the humerus).

Many cases of traumatic shoulder instability are injuries to the cartilage protecting the shoulder joint and humerus (the labrum).
Description
Traumatic shoulder instability occurs when any part of the shoulder sustains some type of repetitive, chronic, or forceful contact that causes a weakened shoulder. These injuries could result from a severe and unexpected event that causes immediate and significant damage. The injury affects the injured shoulder’s ability to move freely and function properly.
One of the more common specific traumatic instability occurrences is ligament tears near the glenoid bone.
Another occurrence is a SLAP tear or lesion, with SLAP being an acronym for the Superior Labrum, Anterior And Posterior.
One other common form of traumatic shoulder instability is TUBS syndrome. TUBS is short for Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability. It is also referred to as a Bankart lesion.
Causes
Traumatic shoulder instability is often linked to full-contact sports, which exposes the shoulder to potential abuse and blunt force trauma. Specific high-risk sports include football, wrestling, and skiing. Non-sports injuries often result from spur-of-the-moment incidents, like falls, physical assaults, or car accidents.

Symptoms
In most cases, the primary symptom of traumatic shoulder instability is pain. Discomfort is often worsened when you move the shoulder and in forceful motions like throwing a ball or lifting and carrying objects. Visual clues, such as redness, bruising, and swelling, can also be present.
More serious incidents might include the feeling of instability, continual and debilitating discomfort, difficulty performing basic movements, and a gradual loss of motion. The most severe cases might prevent you from moving your shoulder at all.
Complications
If not diagnosed and treated early, traumatic shoulder instability will likely worsen. This could result in more severe pain and potentially serious problems like increased instability and life-limiting mobility issues.
Diagnosis
Confirmation of a traumatic shoulder instability-producing injury is usually performed in specific steps.
During the first step, your doctor will take your medical history, inquire about when the pain started, if you participated in any contact sports, or were recently involved in some type of fall or accident.
The next step typically involves a thorough examination of your shoulder. Your physician may ask you to perform specific movements to determine the structure’s motion range and strength. They may touch your shoulder at various points to identify areas of pain or tenderness.
In many instances, conclusions will need the use of diagnostic imaging equipment. Imaging equipment like X-rays, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and CT scans (Computerized Tomography) capture internal photos of your shoulder, which can reveal structural damage and other abnormalities.
Treatment Overview
Traumatic shoulder instability is a significant physical injury. The specific treatment you will receive will hinge on factors such as your age, general health, the instability’s severity, the affected shoulder region, and fitness goals. For example, professional athletes may need more aggressive treatment to speed up their return to play.
Non-Surgical Options
Mild to moderate cases can be treated using classic recovery measures like resting the injured shoulder and immobilizing it in a movement-restricting device like a sling or brace. Ice can also be applied to relieve discomfort and reduce associated swelling. Non-surgical treatments might also be followed by a period of physical therapy geared towards preventing motion loss and weakening. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will guide you with a specific non-surgical treatment plan.
Surgical Procedures
In cases where you experience noticeable shoulder instability or complete dislocation, surgery may be necessary. Several surgical procedures are performed to remove damaged components and correct dislocations by reattaching dislocated components.
Prognosis
Your recovery will depend on the severity of your injury and the specific treatment used to treat it. Specific recovery periods are difficult to estimate since everyone heals at their own pace.
Your recovery will take longer if you undergo surgery, as you will most likely need physical therapy.
Next Steps
Please contact us if you have been given a previous diagnosis of traumatic shoulder instability or are experiencing its symptoms. Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician today to learn more about traumatic shoulder instability.
Areas of Focus
- Shoulder
- AC Joint Injuries
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Bankart Repair
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Clavicle Fractures
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Little League Shoulder
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Subacromial Decompression
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Traumatic Shoulder Instability:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
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