What bones can you dislocate

These injuries require emergency medical care to avoid further damage. If you think your child has a dislocation, get emergency medical care or call Until care arrives:. Reviewed by: Kate M.

More serious or difficult to see breaks, though, may require magnetic resonance imaging MRI. In severe cases, broken bones will need to be fixated while healing through the use of metal plates and screws applied either internally or externally. It can take anywhere from several weeks to several months for broken bones to heal. While breaks can happen at the end of a bone, on a joint or somewhere in between, dislocations can occur only at joints. A dislocation is an injury that causes the ends of your bones out of position within a joint.

Common dislocations include ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, fingers and even your jaw. Not only is a dislocation generally very painful, but it can also cause further damage to nerves or tendons if not addressed immediately. Your nearest Urgency Room is equipped to care for you and treat your dislocation in the best way possible in the least amount of time.

Symptoms of a dislocated bone may include swelling, bruising and pain. Dislocation treatment may include repositioning the bone in the joint, a prescription for painkillers or anti-inflammatories, a sling or a splint, and possible rehabilitation treatment. If your dislocation is severe, it may take longer than the usual 2—3 weeks to return to full movement.

After dislocating a bone, however, be wary as that bone is more prone to dislocation in the future. Resources Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts.

Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Treatments and Therapies. Related Issues. Also in Spanish. Creating a sling - slideshow Medical Encyclopedia Also in Spanish. You can dislocate almost any joint in your body, including your knee, hip, ankle, or shoulder.

Since a dislocation means your bone is no longer where it should be, you should treat it as an emergency and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

An untreated dislocation could cause damage to your ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels. Dislocations typically result when a joint experiences an unexpected or unbalanced impact. This might happen if you fall or experience a harsh hit to the affected area. Anyone can dislocate a joint if they fall or experience some other type of trauma.

However, older persons tend to have a higher risk, especially if they lack mobility or are less able to prevent falls. Those who practice unsafe behavior during physical activities put themselves at higher risk for accidents such as dislocations.

The area may be swollen or look bruised. You may notice that the area is red or discolored. It may also have a strange shape or be deformed as a result of the dislocation.

It may be difficult to determine whether your bone is broken or a dislocation has occurred. You should go to an emergency room as quickly as possible.

Your doctor will examine the affected area. He will be checking circulation to the area, deformity, and whether the skin is broken. If your doctor believes that you have a broken bone or a dislocation, he will order an X-ray.

On occasion, special imaging such as an MRI may be required.