Footballer’s Shoulder

The shoulder is a common area for traumatic injury in the adolescent football player. The most common areas of injury include the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, sternoclavicular joint (SC), and glenohumeral joint. The AC joint is susceptible to sprains, fractures, and dislocations, often termed as “separated shoulder,” most commonly following a direct blow injury such as a fall onto the shoulder. The SC joint is rarely injured, but posterior SC joint dislocations do occur and can be life threatening and thus require accurate and prompt diagnosis and treatment. The glenohumeral joint can dislocate following traction injuries to the outstretched arm which may require sideline reduction and eventual surgical repair. Proper diagnosis and treatment of these injuries requires an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the adolescent athlete as well as the anticipated outcomes following treatment.