Do I need surgery for a separated shoulder?
Usually not. Grades I and II heal with short-term rest and rehabilitation. Even grade III – a full separation with a visible bump – is managed conservatively in most cases, with studies showing rehab and surgery give broadly similar functional results, so we start with rehabilitation. Surgery is reserved for the high grades (IV-VI) with severe displacement, and for selected grade-III injuries in overhead or heavy-manual athletes. We grade yours properly before advising.
Will the bump on my shoulder go away?
In higher-grade injuries, often not entirely – and that is important to know upfront. The step where the collarbone-end lifts can remain as a permanent cosmetic bump even after a full functional recovery. What matters far more is that your strength, movement and pain settle, which they usually do. We judge recovery by function, not by the bump, and we tell you honestly which you can expect to change.
How long before I can play sport again?
It depends on the grade and your sport. Grade I is often 1-2 weeks; grade II, a few weeks; grade III, commonly 6-12 weeks of rehab. Return to contact or overhead sport is guided by regaining full strength, range and confidence – not by a date on the calendar. Going back too early risks re-injury before the ligaments and shoulder control have recovered.
Is it the same as a dislocated shoulder?
No, and the distinction matters. A dislocated shoulder is the ball of the upper arm coming out of its socket; an AC joint injury is a ligament sprain at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. They are different injuries with different treatment. A top-of-shoulder bump after a fall is the AC joint; that is what we assess and grade.
Could it be a broken collarbone instead?
It can look similar, because a fracture of the outer end of the collarbone causes pain in the same area. Examination and X-rays tell them apart, and it is worth getting right because a displaced distal clavicle fracture is managed differently from a ligament injury. This is exactly why an accurate assessment comes before treatment.
When is surgery indicated?
For the severe, high-grade injuries (Rockwood IV, V and VI) where the joint is markedly and mechanically displaced, and for selected grade-III injuries in athletes whose sport demands it and who have not done well with rehabilitation. These are the minority. For everyone else, honest rehabilitation restores excellent function, and we do not push surgery you do not need – but we refer promptly when the grade genuinely calls for it.
