What happens if Hill-Sachs lesion is left untreated?

Having great health does not only make humans be able to do many things in life and to achieve so many dreams. It helps a person to become sane and to be happy or content with life. Good health enables humans to perform daily life with ease and to enjoy moments of this beautiful life. However, as humans, we cannot run away from being affected by diseases. In this DoctorOnCall’s article, we will learn about Hill-Sachs lesions which may seem like a new disease to you.To better understand what Hill-Sachs lesion is, you may want to know a bit more on the part affected by the lesion which is the upper arm. The upper arm includes the shoulder and the area between shoulder and elbow. Bones of the upper arm include the scapula (shoulder bone), clavicle (collarbone) and humerus. The long bone of the upper arms is known as the humerus. The upper arm has a number of muscles such as biceps and triceps.Hill-Sachs lesion is an injury that affects the humerus. It is often associated with shoulder instability, specifically anterior shoulder. This means that this condition occurs when a person experiences shoulder dislocation. It is also known as a compression fracture to the postero-superolateral humeral head associated with anterior instability. In 1940, Hill and Sachs were able to describe this lesion when they were performing radiographs. The lesion on the imaging result is described as the line of condensation which explains the compression to the humeral head during the dislocation event.Anterior shoulder instability refers to the condition of the head of the humerus to dislocate from the glenoid fossa (shallow pit near the scapula). It often occurs when the arm is abducted or moves away from the body with the external rotation position. Anterior shoulder dislocation makes up almost 97% of all shoulder dislocations.It is not exactly known the number of those affected by Hill-Sachs lesion but what is known is the lesion is associated with approximately 40 to 90% of all anterior shoulder instability events. While Hill-Sach lesion is the common one, there is actually a reverse Hill-Sachs but it is considered rare. The importance of knowing Hill-Sachs lesion is the fact that if it is not attended by doctors, the instability can continue and worsen.Symptoms of Hill-Sachs lesion is similar to any other dislocated shoulder such as extreme pain from muscle spasms, swelling, bruising, discoloration, weakness, deformity with shoulder out of place and inability to move arm. It is important to get checked for shoulder dislocation if a person is suspected with any symptoms mentioned. While it is true that Hill-Sachs lesion often resulted from great trauma such as fall or motor vehicle accident and even sport, it can be caused by minor events such as sleeping with arm overhead.Due to the fact that shoulder dislocation can occur in many forms including the Hill-Sachs lesion, doctors often run additional tests apart from knowing the patient’s history and physical examination on the arm itself. The test includes x-ray and CT-scan. X-ray is often the initial imaging test done before CT-scan is considered. CT-scan is usually used to identify bone details that are difficult to be seen on x-ray such as the extent of bone less.Treatment for Hill-Sachs lesions depends on the severity of the lesion. In small defects, surgery is not usually indicated. Surgery is also not recommended for the elderly and those at high medical risk. Thus, in these cases, rehabilitation programs are best for the patients. It may take up to months before the arm is stabilised. Surgery for Hill-Sachs lesions is when there are severe symptoms or the lesion itself is big. Arthroscopic is the typical tool for surgery in Hill-Sachs lesions. Surgery can be in the form of Remplissage procedure and bone grafting. Shoulder replacement is often done in severe cases where the humerus is damaged significantly.Do you know what can happen if Hill-Sachs lesions are left untreated? The instability will continue and even if it seems like fine, recurrent or repeated shoulder instability can occur. It may also cause bone loss that causes the bone to become weaker. Nerve injury may also occur resulting in abnormal nerve function.It can be concluded that Hill-Sachs lesion is injury that resulted from shoulder dislocation, especially anterior instability. It affect the humerus head of the upper arm. Hill-Sachs lesion is the result from trauma to the humerus which causes compression on the structure. Hill-Sachs lesions can be confused with other bone problems. It is important for those with symptoms of shoulder dislocation to get checked by doctor as it is considered as an emergency. Treatment depend on the severity of the lesion which means it can be surgical or non-surgical treatment. Patient are advised to get treated properly as to left it untreated can cause further issues.While there is not much that can be done to prevent Hill-Sachs lesions, taking preventative measures can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing it. This includes wearing the right gear and equipment during sports and work, wearing seatbelts when in a vehicle and to use a walker or cane if a person is already at risk for falls or with difficulty walking.