Quick Facts: Shoulder Separation - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

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What is a shoulder separation?

What causes a shoulder separation?

What are the symptoms of a shoulder separation?

How can doctors tell if I have a shoulder separation?

How do doctors treat a shoulder separation?

Sprains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries

Overview of Sprains

Achilles Tendon Tears

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Quick Facts

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The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Dec 2018| Content last modified Dec 2018

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Anatomy of a Shoulder Joint

A shoulder separation is a tear in the ligament that holds your collar bone to your shoulder blade.

Ligaments are short, tough bands of tissue that hold your bones together at a joint.

Your ligament may be partially or completely torn
Shoulder separations are common, especially among people who play sports
Your shoulder will be painful and tender
You may need a sling or, if the injury is severe, surgery

Anatomy of a Shoulder Joint

A shoulder separation is usually caused by falling on your shoulder or outstretched arm. It's a common injury for people who do high-speed or contact sports, such as:

Rugby
Football
Skiing
Jet-skiing

Your shoulder joint is:

Painful
Tender

Your doctor will do:

X-rays

Treatment depends on how bad your shoulder separation is.

For a mild shoulder separation, doctors will:

Have you wear a sling to rest your shoulder
Have you do exercises to keep your joint working

For a severe shoulder separation, doctors will:

Do surgery on your shoulder

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