Shoulder Separation After a Slip and Fall

Slip and Fall Accident Causing Shoulder Separation in Indiana

A slip and fall accident can lead to a separated shoulder injury when a person lands forcefully, or their shoulder area is stretched too far. A separated shoulder is a serious injury that is often extremely painful and may require surgery. It also suspects a person to future injuries and shoulder dislocations, which can cause serious pain and damage to the shoulder. A shoulder separation after a slip and fall due to the negligence of a business, homeowner, or government entity could result in compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and conscious pain and suffering. Ask our experienced slip and fall lawyers at Shaw Law in Indiana how we can recover that for you.

Here at Shaw Law, we have a proven track record of success recover compensation for victims and their families after a slip and fall accident in Indiana. This includes serious shoulder injuries should as a shoulder separation after a slip and fall. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a slip, trip, and fall, learn how we can help you today during a FREE consultation with one of our trained and compassionate slip and fall lawyers.

What Is a Separated Shoulder?

Ligaments are strong stretchy tissues that connect the body’s bones. Like any elastic band, there is a limit to their stretchiness. When the ligaments that hold the shoulder bone to the shoulder blade get stretched too far or actually rip apart, we call this type of injury a separated shoulder. The medical name for a separated shoulder is an acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation.

Difference Between a Separated Shoulder and a Dislocated Shoulder

A separated shoulder is not the same as a dislocated shoulder. In the case of a dislocated shoulder, the shoulder bones are knocked out of the joint, or dislocated, rendering the shoulder unstable. Sometimes the bone may be popped back in manually, but for more complicated dislocations, a person may need surgery.

On the other hand, a separated shoulder refers to the ligaments, not the bones. For a traumatic slip and fall injury, a person may have both a separated shoulder and a dislocated shoulder, where both ligaments and bones are injured.

We have a proven track record of success recover compensation for victims and their families after a slip and fall accident in Indiana. This includes serious shoulder injuries should as a shoulder separation after a slip and fall. Contact us today for your free consultation.

Three Types of Separated Shoulder

A healthcare provide should be able to diagnose which type of separated shoulder injury you may have with a physical review.

Some cases will need an X-ray which can show the severity of the injury:

• Type I: In this situation, the AC ligament is slightly or moderately sprained. A patient will feel slight or moderate pain and have some swelling. There should be no arm or shoulder deformity.
• Type II: In this situation, the AC ligament is torn, and there may also be a small sprain or tear in the coracoclavicular (CC) ligament. A patient will have moderate pain and swelling. The arm and shoulder may be slightly deformed or out of alignment, and may or may display a bump.
• Type III: This is the most severe type of separated shoulder, because both sets of ligaments (the AC and the CC) will be torn or pulled away. A patient will have strong to severe pain and swelling. The arm and shoulder area is likely deformed with bulges, drooping, and bruising.

Causes of Separated Shoulder

The most common cause of a separated shoulder comes from a bicycle crash, where the cyclist lands on their shoulder. But separated shoulders can happen from any type of fall, especially a slip and fall accident. Icy sidewalks and parking lots, wet or slick floors, cluttered staircases or factory work areas, holes that pedestrians can fall into, just to name a few.

Medical Treatments for a Separated Shoulder

First and foremost, a patient should avoid any activity that would put stress or weight on the injured shoulder. A simple arm sling should help with that. Rest is essential in recovery. Minor and moderate shoulder separation injuries usually respond well to rest and regular icing or cold packs. Pain may be managed by over the county pain relievers.

Physical therapy exercises will restore the shoulder’s strength and flexibility. If surgery is required, then stronger pain medicines may be prescribed. Physical therapy can begin when the doctor determines the should is healed enough to begin some activity.

Prognosis for a Separated Shoulder

Mild and moderate cases of separated shoulders (Type 1 and Type II) usually fully recover in a few weeks. Severe cases (Type III) take longer to recover, perhaps a few months, especially when surgery is involved. There may or may not be a visible bump. Long term, arthritis is a possibility when a joint is injured.

How a Separated Shoulder Injury Can Affect Work

An employee should not continue to do any work that will put weight or stress on the injured area until a doctor approves in doing so. Otherwise, the injury may not heal properly and corrective surgery may be needed.

If you or a loved one suffered shoulder separation after a slip and fall in Indiana, call the experienced slip and fall lawyers in Indiana at (260) 777-7777 or message us to learn how we can help protect your rights.