dislocation

an injury to a joint in which bones are displaced from their normal, respective positions. Associated effects include bruising of the surrounding tissues and tearing of the ligaments that hold the bones together. Most dislocations are simple rather than compound (the latter being where the bone punctures the skin) and acquired rather than CONGENITAL . Immediate treatment involves the application of a splint or bandage to render the joint stable. Repositioning the bone requires skill, after which the limb must be fixed to avoid a repetition. Even after some time, care is necessary when using the limb.