Taiwanese teenager returns to dance after minimally invasive surgery for repeated shoulder dislocations

A 14-year-old Taiwanese girl who loves dancing returned to the stage three months after surgery for repeated shoulder dislocations. She first felt severe pain after hearing a crack while practicing a back handspring, then began suffering frequent dislocations.

Doctors diagnosed a rare posterior shoulder dislocation combined with instability. Rehabilitation focused on muscle strength and hand-eye coordination, but the condition did not improve after six months. Doctors then recommended minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair the labrum and tighten the joint capsule.

Orthopedic surgeon Tai Wei-che said more than 90% of recurrent shoulder dislocations seen clinically occur toward the front. The girl’s posterior dislocation was unusual, and doctors also identified congenital ligament looseness.

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A shoulder dislocation is absolutely not a minor injury that can be solved by simply putting it back.

Tai warned that a shoulder dislocation is not a minor injury that can simply be put back into place. Dislocation can damage the labrum, joint capsule, ligaments and the head of the upper-arm bone. Delayed treatment may cause bone loss and cartilage wear, making later surgery more difficult and increasing the risk of shoulder degeneration.

Doctors said injuries from basketball, baseball, volleyball, traffic accidents and contact sports such as judo can cause the condition. Dance-related injuries have also become more common as the activity has grown in popularity.

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The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion in the human body and is also the easiest to dislocate.