Dislocated Shoulder/Rotator Cuff Tear

[jthurmond]

Dear Dr. Joshua:

* I know this isn't your speciality, but I have a quick question about orthopedics.* Is a dislocated shoulder inconsistent with a rotator cuff tear, or can you have both at the same time from the same injury?* I'm just wondering because my mother dislocated her shoulder and was taken to the hospital where it was diagnosed as dislocated.* Now her specialist is telling her that she has a torn rotator cuff tear.* Is it possible that the tear occurred with the same injury that dislocated her shoulder, and the hospital just missed the tear?* Thank you for your time.

Very truly yours,

Julie T.

[Dr. Joshua]

Hi Julie, yes it is possible to have both a dislocated shoulder and a rotator cuff tear at the same time. In fact, anterior (forward) dislocation of the shoulder is often associated with rotator cuff rupture, and the rotator cuff diagnosis is often missed or mistaken for damage to the axillary nerve, which is in fact a rarer occurrence.