A football tackle where the shoulder lands on another player's body most likely results in which injury?

• A. AC separation
• B. Shoulder dislocation
• C. Rotator cuff tear
• D. Fractured clavicle

Answer: (B)

A tackle that drives the shoulder into another player often forces the humeral head out of the glenoid, especially when the arm is in a vulnerable position (slightly abducted and externally rotated) at the moment of impact. This mechanism commonly causes an acute shoulder dislocation, typically anterior. The result is severe pain, inability to move the arm, and a visibly squared-off shoulder with the humeral head possibly felt in the front of the shoulder or beneath the skin of the armpit.

AC joint separation would come from a direct blow to the top of the shoulder and presents with tenderness and a noticeable step-off at the acromion, rather than a displaced humeral head. Rotator cuff tears tend to present with pain and weakness without an obvious joint deformity after a single impact, and are more likely in degenerative or older patients. A fractured clavicle shows deformity along the clavicle itself and point tenderness over the bone, which differs from the flattened contour and palpable displaced humeral head seen with a dislocation.