Treatment of Pediatric Shoulder Instability

Anterior shoulder dislocation is the most common form of shoulder dislocation and is generally seen in adolescents participating in contact or collision sports among the pediatric age group. Age is the most important denominator for predicting the recurrence. In civilian/adult population, the treatment is generally conservative. However, there are emerging data to support stabilization surgery for the first-time traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation in the active adolescent patients. Traumatic posterior shoulder dislocations are rare, and can be easily missed on radiographs. Treatment is generally conservative. Multidirectional instability occurs in pediatric overhead athlete with generalized ligamentous laxity. A lengthy rehabilitation program involving shoulder girdle and periscapular strengthening is the mainstay of treatment.