In adults, which joints are dislocated more frequently than the elbow?

• A. Shoulder and Finger
• B. Knee and Ankle
• C. Hip and Elbow
• D. Wrist and Ankle

Answer: (A)

Dislocations occur most often in joints that have wide motion and relatively loose stability. The shoulder fits this pattern: the glenohumeral joint is a shallow socket, so the humeral head can slip out more easily, especially with twisting or pushing injuries, making shoulder dislocations the most common in adults. Fingers dislocate frequently too because there are many small joints (in the fingers) that are easily jarred out of alignment during jams, crush injuries, or sports mishaps. The elbow, while it can dislocate, does so less often than the shoulder or the fingers and usually requires a higher-energy mechanism. So, the joints that dislocate more often than the elbow are the shoulder and the fingers.