What is Luxation?

Luxation or joint dislocations are all too common, particularly for young or active people. Treating the injury properly is important to reduce the risk of long-term nerve or joint damage. At Wrist Supports, we've created a guide so you know exactly what to do when you suffer from a dislocation.

What is Luxation?

Luxation is more commonly known as a "joint dislocation," which is (warning: graphic description incoming; the squeamish and faint of heart should scroll down now!) where a bone is forced from the joint and its normal position by a blow or fall. This can occur in any major or minor joint, including the shoulders, fingers, wrists and knees.

What Are the Causes of a Joint Dislocation?

Dislocating a major joint or bone tends to take considerable force, so luxation is usually caused by a significant trauma. This includes the following:

• Falls or blows to the area
• Car accidents
• Collisions during contact sports

Some people are also prone to dislocations as a result of a birth defect, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hypermobility syndrome. These cause your joints to be loose and unstable, which makes them more susceptible to dislocations.

Signs and Symptoms of the Condition

Luxation is characterised by a number of symptoms, particularly intense pain, bleeding and swelling as soon as the trauma occurs. This will usually cause you to hold the area to protect it from further damage and pain. The joint will be difficult to move and you might not be able to move it at all. If nerves and blood vessels are trapped or compressed as a result of the dislocation, this can cause numbness and tingling.

Treating a Joint Dislocation

This injury should only be put back by a trained medical professional in a hospital; first aiders in the field shouldn't reduce the dislocation. This is because dislocations must be put back correctly to prevent any damage to the blood vessels and nerves. As this process is painful, you should also be sedated while manipulation occurs. The luxated joint should be kept cool and elevated if possible, as this helps reduce swelling.

After a healthcare professional has put the joint back in its correct position, the injury should be held in place by a splint or bandage. Some joints, like the shoulder, run the risk of being dislocated again follow the initial luxation. As such, it's important to strengthen your tendons and ligaments by getting physiotherapy when your doctor tells you you're ready. How long recovery takes will depend on where the injury is, as well as a number of different factors like your age, weight and whether or not you perform your physiotherapy exercises.

Luxation at Wrist Supports

As shoulder and wrist luxations are among the most common joint dislocations, it's integral that you're prepared with all the right tools to get you through the injury. Our arm slings can help stabilise your arm as you heal to prevent recurrence and speed up the healing process. Or if you're suffering from luxation of the wrist, simply click the yellow button below to view our range of braces for wrist dislocations. These will help immobilise the area and keep your joint in the correct position to promote healing.

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