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About Tanujan Thangarajah

Personal Profile

Mr Tan Thangarajah is a highly experienced, accomplished Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon exclusively treating patients with shoulder and elbow problems. He holds a prestigious NHS Consultant post at University College London Hospitals where he has a tertiary referral practice dealing with some of the most challenging cases from around the United Kingdom. Given his expertise, he is regularly consulted for a second opinion by both colleagues and patients. He specialises in all aspects of keyhole surgery, sports-related injuries, rotator cuff tears, shoulder instability, arthritis, elbow disorders, and fractures of the upper limb.

Upon graduating from the University of Liverpool with honours, Mr Thangarajah undertook his specialist orthopaedic training in London on the renowned Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital rotation based in Stanmore. In addition to holding a master's degree, he was awarded a coveted research grant by the Royal College of Surgeons to complete a PhD at University College London that examined strategies used to enhance the healing of rotator cuff tears. His pioneering work led to numerous publications in some of the world's most esteemed medical journals and accordingly, he is regularly invited to speak at conferences and is involved in training other surgeons. These achievements have earned him recognition on a national and international level, as seen through the various prizes he has received at prestigious scientific meetings. His numerous accolades led to him being invited to review articles for the 'American Journal of Sports Medicine,' the pre-eminent publication in the field of sports surgery. His contribution to the field has therefore been pivotal in advancing knowledge and improving patient care.

Mr Thangarajah completed world-renowned shoulder and elbow fellowships at the University of Cambridge and the University of Calgary in Canada. In these, he collaborated with some of the top surgeons in the world to treat elite competitors, including professional rugby players, ice hockey players, gymnasts, skiers, snowboarders, and Olympic athletes. This highly specialised experience provided him with the sophisticated abilities required to deliver a bespoke, patient centred service using state-of-the-art surgical techniques and innovations. As such, he is one of a select group of surgeons who have excelled academically in shoulder surgery while gaining a wealth of technical expertise from some of the world's most renowned centres of clinical excellence. For some patients though, surgery is not the most appropriate option, and so Mr Thangarajah works closely together with his physiotherapy team to deliver effective non-operative treatments that minimise pain and improve recovery. This commitment to excellence coupled with a compassionate approach ensures that his patients receive the highest standard of care, allowing them to resume their normal activities as quickly as possible.

Away from medicine, Mr Thangarajah enjoys going to the gym and spending time with his family.

Clinical Interests

Mr Thangarajah’s practice solely focusses on problems affecting the shoulder and elbow. As such, he offers a comprehensive service that includes both non-surgical and surgical treatments. His interests include the following: 

Shoulder:

  • Minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery 
  • Sports injuries 
  • Skiing injuries
  • Fractures around the shoulder – scapula, clavicle and proximal humerus
  • Acromioclavicular joint pain and dislocation 
  • Shoulder dislocation and instability 
  • Shoulder pain and stiffness 
  • Rotator cuff tears 
  • Shoulder impingement 
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Shoulder arthritis
  • Shoulder replacement surgery 
  • Pectoralis major tendon rupture

Elbow:

  • Minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery
  • Sports injuries 
  • Skiing injuries 
  • Fractures around the elbow
  • Elbow dislocation and instability 
  • Biceps tendon rupture 
  • Triceps tendon rupture 
  • Elbow pain and stiffness
  • Elbow tendinopathies – Tennis and Golfer’s elbow
  • Elbow arthritis 
  • Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome)

Professional Memberships

  • General Medical Council

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Treatments offered by Tanujan Thangarajah


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More useful information

Languages spoken

English

GMC number

6140739
A General Medical Council (GMC) number is a unique ID that shows a specialist is officially registered and approved to practice medicine in the UK.

Qualifications

MB ChB (hons), MSc, PhD, MAcadMEd, FRCS (Tr&Orth)

Professional memberships

  • General Medical Council

Full list of treatments Tanujan Thangarajah offers


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