About Miss Aparna Viswanath
Personal Profile
Miss Aparna Viswanath is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in conditions of the shoulder and elbow, with additional expertise in complex trauma affecting the wrist. Miss Viswanath offers private consultations for patients seeking specialist assessment of shoulder and arm problems at Woodlands Hospital in Darlington. She welcomes NHS, privately insured and self-paying patients.
Her practice focuses on accurate diagnosis, thoughtful treatment planning and helping patients return to comfortable movement and function.
She is a specialist Shoulder, Elbow and Trauma Surgeon serving Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and North Yorkshire. Her NHS base is located at South Tees University Hospitals NHS Trust. She is known for her careful, patient-centred approach that combines surgical expertise with a strong emphasis on education, rehabilitation and long-term joint health.
Miss Viswanath graduated from King’s College London in 2007 before completing higher surgical training in Trauma and Orthopaedics within the East of England Deanery. During her training, she developed a strong interest in upper limb surgery and went on to undertake several advanced fellowships in internationally recognised centres.
Her fellowship training includes:
- Hand and wrist surgery – Auckland, New Zealand
- Shoulder and elbow surgery – Auckland, New Zealand
- Shoulder and elbow surgery – Wrightington Hospital
- Shoulder and elbow surgery – University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
She was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2021, where she specialises in shoulder and elbow surgery.
In addition to her clinical work, Miss Viswanath is actively involved in national professional organisations and education. She serves on the council for the British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) and contributes to surgical education as faculty on internationally-recognised shoulder courses. These include the Watanabe Shoulder Arthroscopy Course. She also has a strong interest in improving systems within healthcare and has been involved in initiatives exploring the ergonomics of surgical care and how services can evolve to deliver better value and outcomes for patients.
Miss Viswanath provides specialist assessment and treatment for a wide range of shoulder and elbow conditions including:
- Rotator cuff tears and tendon injuries
- Shoulder arthritis
- Shoulder instability and dislocations
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder pain and stiffness
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Nerve-related arm and hand symptoms
She offers both surgical and non-surgical treatment options, with a focus on selecting the most appropriate approach for each individual patient. Her surgical practice includes modern minimally invasive (arthroscopic) techniques where appropriate, as well as reconstructive procedures for more complex shoulder problems.
Miss Viswanath believes that successful treatment of shoulder and arm problems requires more than surgery alone. Her approach emphasises careful diagnosis, clear explanation of the underlying condition, and personalised treatment planning. Where appropriate, treatment may include physiotherapy, targeted injections, activity modification and structured rehabilitation programmes alongside surgical intervention. Her aim is not only to relieve pain but also to restore confidence in movement and help patients return to work, sport and everyday activities.
She is actively involved in research through the York National Trials unit, and has published many papers in peer-reviewed journals throughout her career. She is involved in the Northern Deanery training program and teaches specialist trainees in the region.
Outside of her professional life, Miss Viswanath enjoys dancing, travelling, yoga, skiing, water sports, cooking, baking novelty cakes, and reading. She is a classically trained dancer and enjoyed performing across London and leading major national events. She therefore understands the need for hobbies and advocates for patients to be able to return to the activities they enjoy.
Book an appointment online today!
Clinical Interests
- Shoulder and elbow surgery
- Arthroplasty
- Rotator cuff repairs
- Instability surgery
- Capsular release surgery
- Biceps tendon pathology
- Pectoralis major tendon pathology
- Tennis elbow
- Stiffness of the elbow
- Nerve issues affecting the elbow, wrist and hand - including cubital and carpal tunnel surgery
