Dislocated shoulder. X-ray of a dislocated shoulder joint. Dislocation, or luxation, is where the bones of a joint move out of alignment, often with damage to surrounding soft tissue. Here the head of the humerus (upper arm bone, centre) has slipped out of its socket with the scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone, top left). The humerus will be manipulated back into position and the joint will be rested to allow the ligaments and other soft tissue to heal.