Bandage for a torn capsule in the shoulder
The bandage most frequently used in case of a capsule tear in the shoulder is the so-called Gilchrist bandage (named after the physician Thomas Gilchrist). The bandage consists of a sling which immobilizes and stabilizes the arm in an angled position. Not the entire upper body is included and the mobility of hand and fingers is also maintained.
The bandage bears the weight of the injured arm. A tour of the sling runs along the neck, allowing the arm to be suspended from the trunk. Due to this compromise between relief and retained mobility, the Gilchrist bandage is in many cases the best type of bandage for healing a capsule tear in the shoulder.As an alternative for injuries with particular instability, the Dessault bandage offers a stronger immobilization.
Edema or thrombosis can also be treated with bandages. For general information on treatment with a compression bandage, see What is the advantage of a compression bandage? In most cases, surgery is not necessary if the capsule ruptures in the shoulder.
Even if the arm is dislocated, it can usually be repositioned without surgery. However, in the case of certain concomitant injuries, surgery is required, as this is the only way to repair the damage and otherwise there is a risk of long-term loss of shoulder function. Surgery becomes necessary, for example, if ligaments are torn in addition to the capsule or if a dislocation has caused a fracture.
Injuries to nerve tracts or blood vessels can also usually only be treated by surgery. In addition, surgery is more frequently recommended for younger people with a torn capsule in the shoulder. Due to the injury, the joint may become unstable, which can be remedied by surgery. A distinction must be made between the open surgical form and the minimally invasive procedure using the “keyhole technique” in the form of arthroscopy. At this point it is important to deal with arthroscopy and treatment by means of surgery in the shoulder area:
- How does an arthroscopy work?
- Surgery of a acromioclavicular joint dislocation
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