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Shoulder separation - aftercare

Separated shoulder - aftercare; Acromioclavicular joint separation - aftercare; A/C separation - aftercare

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Description

Shoulder separation is not an injury to the main shoulder joint itself. It is an injury to the top of the shoulder where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the top of the shoulder blade (acromion of the scapula).

It is not the same as a shoulder dislocation. A dislocated shoulder occurs when the arm bone comes out of the main shoulder joint.

About Your Injury

Most shoulder separation injuries are caused by falling onto the shoulder. This results in a tear in the tissue that connects the collarbone and top of the shoulder blade. These tears can also be caused by car accidents and sports injuries.

This injury can make the shoulder look abnormal due to the end of a bone sticking up or the shoulder hanging lower than normal.

Pain is usually at the very top of the shoulder.

Your health care provider may have you hold onto a weight while examining you to see if your collarbone sticks out. An x-ray of your shoulder may help diagnose a shoulder separation. With subtle separations an MRI (advanced imaging) scan may be needed to accurately identify the presence and extent of the injury.

What to Expect

Most people recover from a shoulder separation without surgery, within 2 to 12 weeks. You will be treated with ice, medicines, a sling, and then exercises as you continue to heal.

Your recovery may be slower if you have:

You may need surgery right away if you have:

Self-care at Home

Make an ice pack by putting ice in a sealable plastic bag and wrapping a cloth around it. Do not put the bag of ice directly on the area, as the ice could damage your skin.

On the first day of your injury, apply the ice for 20 minutes every hour while awake. After the first day, ice the area every 3 to 4 hours for 20 minutes each time. Do this for 2 days or longer, or as instructed by your provider.

For pain, you can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), aspirin, or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can buy these pain medicines without a prescription.

You may be given a shoulder sling to use for a few weeks.

Follow-up

If you continue to have pain, your provider will probably ask you to come back in 1 week to decide if you need to:

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most shoulder separations heal without serious consequences. In a severe injury, there may be long-term difficulties lifting heavy objects with the injured side.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you have:

References

Andermahr J, Ring D, Jupiter JB. Fractures and dislocations of the clavicle. In: Browner BD, Jupiter JB, Krettek C, Anderson PA, eds. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 48.

Rizzo TD. Acromioclavicular injuries. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 10.

Rudy CC, Daya MR. Shoulder injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 45.

Scholten P, Stanos SP, Rivers WE, Prather H, Press J. Physical medicine and rehabilitation approaches to pain management. In: Benzon HT, Raja SN, Liu SS, Fishman SM, Cohen SP, eds. Essentials of Pain Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 58.

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Review Date: 4/16/2022  

Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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