Shoulder dislocation in Swedish ice hockey players.

1. Humeroscapular dislocation, primary or recurrent, is found in 8% of elite ice hockey players in Sweden. 2. The dislocation recurs in 90% of greater than 20-year-old players and the frequency diminishes with increasing age. 3. The duration of immobilization after the first dislocation bears no sure relation to the risk of recurrence. 4. In 80% of the cases, the operated shoulder was the one that predominates in ice hockey, usually the left. Of the 32 operated players, 30 have been able to continue with ice hockey and relatively marked postoperative loss of mobility has been tolerated well. 5. Even without an operation, a recurrent shoulder dislocation did not prevent one-third of the players from continuing with ice hockey.