Complications

Complications of a dislocated shoulder may include:

• Tearing of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that reinforce your shoulder joint
• Nerve or blood vessel damage in or around your shoulder joint
• Shoulder instability, especially if you have a severe dislocation or repeated dislocations, which makes you more prone to re-injury.

If you stretch or tear ligaments or tendons in your shoulder or damage nerves or blood vessels around your shoulder joint, you may need surgery to repair these tissues.