HOLCOMBE'S INJURY, BY RAMBILL (Aug 9)Add yourself to The HERD's Official Roster (guestbook), if you think you are man enough!
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Here's the difference:
Separated shoulder: when the far end of your collar bone gets separated from its attachment point on the scapula (shoulder bone), stretching or tearing the ligaments that hold the joint together.
Dislocated shoulder: when the upper end of the arm actually comes out of the shoulder socket.
A dislocation is usually worse than a separation because the ball and socket shoulder joint is more unstable than the acromio- clavicular joint (where a separation occurs). Once the ligaments, tendons, and other supporting structures get stretched out in a dislocation they are never really the same again. The joint may heal but it is not as stable as it was before the dislocation. As a result, it has a tendency to happen again. If it keeps happening then it usually requires surgery to tighten up the joint.
I don't know how bad Holcombe's dislocation was. Some dislocations need surgery immediately. If he gets back in 2-4 weeks then it may not be too bad. But a shoulder dislocation has the potential to be more of a recurring problem than a shoulder separation. Let's hope that's not the case with Holcombe.