RecruitingInterventional

Surgery or rehabilitation for traumatic shoulder dislocations

This study, called SORTED, is for young adults aged 16 to 30 who have dislocated their shoulder for the very first time. This injury often happens during sports. We want to find out the best way to treat it to prevent it from happening again. Currently, doctors either recommend keyhole surgery followed by physiotherapy, or physiotherapy on its own. If a shoulder keeps dislocating, it can cause ongoing pain and problems. This research will help decide which treatment works best and is most cost-effective to prevent future dislocations and their negative effects. Participants will be involved for 15 months and will regularly answer questions about their recovery.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

276

Start

11 May 2026

Estimated completion

31 Jan 2028

Shoulder dislocation

What is this study about?

Imagine your shoulder popping out of its socket – that's a shoulder dislocation. It's a common injury, especially for younger people who play sports. When it happens for the first time, it can be really painful and worrying. If your shoulder keeps dislocating after the first time, it can lead to long-term discomfort, limit what you can do, and even cause other problems like nerve damage.

Currently, there are two main ways doctors try to prevent this from happening again. One option is to have a small operation called keyhole surgery, where tiny cuts are made to fix the shoulder, followed by exercises with a physiotherapist. The other option is to just do physiotherapy exercises without surgery. Both are common treatments on the NHS, but we don't yet know which one is better at stopping the shoulder from dislocating again.

This study aims to answer that important question. By comparing these two approaches, we hope to find out which treatment is most effective in preventing future dislocations and also which one offers the best value for money for the NHS. The results of this study will help doctors across the country make the best treatment decisions for young adults who dislocate their shoulder for the first time, helping them get back to their normal activities with a stable shoulder.

Key takeaways

Aimed at young adults (16-30) after their first shoulder dislocation.
Compares keyhole surgery plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone.
Helps find the best long-term treatment to stop shoulders dislocating again.
Participation involves 15 months of follow-up, mainly through questionnaires.
Both treatments are standard NHS care, so no extra risks.
Funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Who may be eligible?

This study is particularly for young adults, specifically those between 16 and 30 years old, who have recently dislocated their shoulder for the very first time. We'll check with medical scans to make sure a dislocation has definitely occurred.

However, some people might not be able to join. This includes if your injury happened more than 28 days ago, or if your shoulder has dislocated before. If your dislocation wasn't due to an accident, or if both of your shoulders dislocated, you wouldn't be able to take part. Also, if you have other specific shoulder problems shown on scans, like significant bone damage or certain types of ligament tears (other than a common 'Hill-Sachs' fracture), or if you couldn't commit to the study plan, you wouldn't be eligible.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 16 and 30 years old?
Has your shoulder dislocated for the first time?
Has it been less than 28 days since your shoulder dislocated?
Was your shoulder dislocation caused by an accident (e.g., during sport)?
Do you only have one shoulder dislocation, not both?
Are you able to attend follow-up appointments and complete questionnaires?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be involved for about 15 months. You'll be put into one of two groups by chance, like flipping a coin. One group will have keyhole shoulder surgery followed by physiotherapy, and the other group will only have physiotherapy. Both of these treatments are standard for shoulder dislocations on the NHS.

Throughout the study, you won't need to visit the study centre specially for assessments beyond your usual NHS appointments. We'll mainly keep in touch by asking you to fill out questionnaires at regular times. These questionnaires will ask about your shoulder's recovery, how you're feeling, and how your treatment is going. There are no specific medications involved in the study itself, beyond what your doctor might usually prescribe for pain relief or rehabilitation.

Potential risks and benefits

Both treatments offered in this study – surgery with physiotherapy, and physiotherapy alone – are standard NHS care, so taking part doesn't add extra risks. Surgery always carries some risks, like infection or issues with anaesthesia, but it might lower your chance of your shoulder dislocating again. On the other hand, choosing not to have surgery avoids these specific surgical risks, but your shoulder might be more likely to dislocate again. Physiotherapy exercises can sometimes cause temporary soreness or stiffness while you're recovering. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical care.

Locations (15)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Cambridge, England
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Keighley, England
Ayrshire and Arran
Unverified
Ayr, Scotland
Barts Health NHS Trust
Unverified
London, England
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Darlington, England
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Derby, England
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Basingstoke, England
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Milton Keynes, England
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Peterborough, England
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Birmingham, England
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Unverified
Truro, England
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Unverified
Redhill, England

Common questions

What is a 'keyhole surgery'?

Keyhole surgery, also called arthroscopy, is a type of operation where doctors make small cuts to look inside your joint with a camera and fix problems, rather than making a big opening.

What is physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy involves exercises and guidance from a therapist to help you regain strength, movement, and function in your body after an injury.

Will I have to pay to be in the study?

No, this study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), so you will not have to pay to participate.

What if my shoulder dislocates again during the study?

Your medical team will provide care for any further dislocations or complications, as they would normally. Your participation in the study does not affect your standard NHS care.

How will my information be used?

The information you provide through questionnaires will be kept private and used to help researchers understand which treatment works best for shoulder dislocations. Your name will not be linked to the results.

How to find out more

Hannah Crook

sorted@ndorms.ox.ac.uk +44 1865 227912 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.