What are the guidelines for rehabilitation and follow-up care after a shoulder dislocation in primary care?

There are no specific NICE guidelines directly addressing rehabilitation and follow-up care after a shoulder dislocation in primary care within the provided context. However, general principles from related shoulder and musculoskeletal care can be applied.

Rehabilitation: After shoulder dislocation, rehabilitation typically involves physiotherapy focusing on restoring range of motion, strengthening rotator cuff muscles, and improving shoulder stability. While NICE guidelines for primary elective shoulder replacement recommend physiotherapy or occupational therapy advice on self-directed or supervised rehabilitation before hospital discharge, similar principles of tailored rehabilitation goals and support apply in primary care for shoulder injuries ¹.

Follow-up care: Primary care should monitor for new or worsening pain, functional impairment, or instability after shoulder dislocation and refer to orthopaedic services if these occur ¹. There is no specific recommendation for routine long-term follow-up after shoulder dislocation, but patients should be advised to seek review if symptoms persist or worsen.

In summary, primary care management after shoulder dislocation should include advice on rehabilitation exercises with clear goals and access to support, and vigilant monitoring for complications or functional decline warranting specialist referral ¹.