dislocation

dislocation
/dis'loh kay"sheuhn/, n.
1. an act or instance of dislocating.
2. the state of being dislocated.
3. Crystall. (in a crystal lattice) a line about which there is a discontinuity in the lattice structure. Cf. defect (def. 3).
[1350-1400; ME dislocacioun; see DISLOCATE, -ION]

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Displacement of the bones of a joint.

It disrupts the ligaments, muscles, and capsule (encasing membrane) holding the joint in place. The joint, painful and tender, appears misshapen and swollen, with discoloration of the overlying skin. The patient cannot use the joint and often feels a grating or grinding sensation on trying to move it. The bones must be returned to their normal position (reduction) and the joint kept immobile until healed. Recurrent and congenital dislocations usually require surgical reconstruction.

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▪ joint damage
      in physiology and medicine, displacement of the bones forming a joint, with consequent disruption of tissues.

      Dislocations are caused by stresses forceful enough to overcome the resistance of the ligaments, muscles, and capsule that hold the joint in place. A dislocation is called simple when the joint surfaces are not exposed to the air; it is called compound when the joint surfaces are exposed by the destruction of overlying skin or by the end of a bone piercing the skin.

      A congenital dislocation is present at birth as the result of defective formation of the joint. A recurrent, or habitual, dislocation (repeated dislocation of the same joint) may be the result of improper healing of an old injury or may be natural, as in “double joints,” common in fingers and toes, which are the result of loose ligamentation. A pathological dislocation occurs as the result of a disease, such as Marfan's syndrome, which weakens the capsule and ligaments about the joint.

      Symptoms of dislocation include pain and tenderness at the site, a sensation of grating or grinding on attempting to use the part, and inability to use the part. Common signs are deformed appearance of the joint, swelling of surrounding tissue, and discoloration of the overlying skin. X-ray examination is useful to indicate the extent of the injury. Simple dislocations are treated by returning the bones to their normal position (reduction) by manipulation or occasionally by traction. The joint is then kept immobile until healing is complete. Recurrent and congenital dislocations are special problems that usually require surgical reconstruction of the joint.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • dislocation — [ dislɔkasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1314; lat. méd. dislocatio 1 ♦ Le fait de se disloquer, état de ce qui est disloqué. ♢ Méd. Déplacement anormal, en général par traumatisme (d un organe ou d une partie du corps). Dislocation d une articulation. ⇒… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • dislocation — UK US /ˌdɪsləʊˈkeɪʃən/ noun [C or U] ECONOMICS ► a situation in which a person or thing, such as an industry or economy, is no longer working in the usual way or place: »There is a lot of dislocation, and we have increasing numbers of families… …   Financial and business terms

  • Dislocation — Dis lo*ca tion, n. [Cf. F. dislocation.] 1. The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced. T. Burnet. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geol.) The displacement of parts of rocks or portions of strata from the situation which they originally occupied.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dislocation — DISLOCATION. s. f. Déboîtement d un os. [b]f♛/b] On dit en termes de Guerre, La dislocation d une armée, pour dire, La séparation des différens corps d une armée, lorsqu on les distribue dans différens cantonnemens ou garnisons …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Dislocation — Dislocation. См. Дислокация. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • Dislocation — Dislocation, 1) Versetzung; 2) Vertheilung, bes. von Truppen, in Cantonnements od. Marschquartiere; 3) (Chir.), Verschiebung eines körperlichen Theiles aus der natürlichen Lage, bes. eines Knochens aus der Gelenkhöhle bei Knochenbrüchen; Dis… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Dislocation — Dislocation, lat. deutsch, Versetzung; bei Truppenkörpern die Verlegung in Garnisonen; in der Chirurgie die Verschiebung eines Körpertheils; dislocatio cordis, fehlerhafte Lage des Herzens; dislociren, versetzen, verlegen, verschieben …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • dislocation — index deportation, disturbance, removal, replacement Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • dislocation — c.1400, originally of bones, from O.Fr. dislocacion (14c.), or directly from M.L. dislocationem (nom. dislocatio), noun of action from pp. stem of dislocare (see DISLOCATE (Cf. dislocate)). General sense is from c.1600 …   Etymology dictionary

  • dislocation — [n] displacement break, confusion, disarray, disarticulation, disconnection, discontinuity, disengagement, disorder, disorganization, disruption, disturbance, division, luxation, misplacement, unhinging; concepts 316,720,727 Ant. order, ordering …   New thesaurus

  • dislocation — de membre, Luxatio …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

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