Management of the In-Season Athlete with an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation.

ABSTRACT

Management of the in-season athlete presenting with an anterior shoulder dislocation is a nuanced process that continues to be refined. Options and pathways between nonoperative and operative treatment have undergone many iterations over a century of orthopedic research and advancement. It requires an understanding of sport-specific demands and the individual athlete's goals. The orthopedic surgeon must have mastery of the natural history, treatment options, and outcomes of anterior shoulder dislocations. Balance of these factors is delicate and highly individualized for each athlete; and is why management of the in-season athlete with an anterior shoulder dislocation remains an art for the orthopedic surgeon.