Get fast access to a Consulant Orthoapaedic Consultant to resolve elbow and shoulder issues
Patients attend the shoulder and elbow clinic at Albyn Hospital with a wide range of upper‑limb conditions, including injuries, degenerative disorders and long‑standing musculoskeletal problems.
The clinic provides specialist assessment and treatment to help patients manage pain, reduced mobility and functional limitations, whether caused by trauma or conditions such as arthritis.
Patients are given a tailored treatment plan to restore comfort and function, helping them return to normal activity as safely and efficiently as possible.
Understanding the underlying cause of shoulder pain is essential for effective treatment. The specialist team at Albyn Hospital provides comprehensive assessment, advanced imaging where required and personalised treatment plans to help patients regain comfort, strength and function.
Osteoarthritis: This form of arthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning your joint wears out. As a result, your bones begin to rub together which, in turn, can lead to pain, stiffness and muscle weakness. You might experience a locking sensation that could make it difficult to straighten your elbow. Although the natural and wear tear of your joints from ageing is the most common cause of osteoarthritis, the risk is increased if you have a family history of the condition, if you are obese, or if you have had a previous injury to your elbow.
Golfer’s elbow: The medical term for golfer's elbow is medial epicondylitis. It causes pain in the inside of your elbow. It is often the result of the tendon inside your elbow becoming inflamed and strained due to activities or sports that involve repetitive hand or wrist movements.
Tennis elbow: In contrast to golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow (also known as lateral epicondylitis) can cause pain on the outside of your elbow. It is often triggered by repetitive or strenuous movements in your forearm which can cause inflammation in the tendon on the outside of your elbow.
Ulnar nerve compression: Your ulnar nerve is one of the primary nerves in your arm and passes from your neck to your hand. Unfortunately, your elbow is a common part of your body where your ulnar nerve can become compressed. This is known as cubital tunnel syndrome. It can lead to elbow pain, numbness in your fingers, and a weakened grip.
Fracture: This refers to a break or crack in one or more of the bones inside your elbow, which could be caused by an injury or a fall. If you develop a fracture in your olecranon (the tip of your elbow), this can cause sudden pain, numbness in your fingers, and an inability to move your arm. A fracture in your radial head (the top of your radius) could cause pain, difficulty straightening your arm and an inability to rotate your forearm. If your fractured bones have shifted out of their normal position, you could require elbow fracture surgery to reposition these bones.
During your consultation, the Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon will take a comprehensive medical history and discuss your symptoms in detail, including any pain, weakness or restricted movement affecting the shoulder or elbow. This helps build a clear understanding of how your condition is impacting daily activities and overall function.
In many cases, the consultant may recommend diagnostic imaging to support an accurate diagnosis. While most shoulder and elbow conditions can be identified through clinical examination, an X‑ray is often required to assess the bones and joint spaces. Depending on your symptoms, additional imaging such as an MRI scan, ultrasound or CT scan may be advised to evaluate soft tissues, cartilage, tendons or more complex structural issues.
These investigations help ensure that your treatment plan is tailored precisely to your needs and based on the most accurate clinical information available.
For some patients, steroid injections are used as an initial treatment to reduce inflammation within the shoulder. This can help ease pain and improve movement. If symptoms persist, further diagnostic tests or additional treatments may be recommended to identify the underlying cause.
In other cases, shoulder surgery may be required. Most procedures are performed using keyhole (arthroscopic) techniques, which involve small incisions and a thin telescope to examine the joint. Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to assess the structures inside the shoulder and repair or remove any damaged tissue during the same procedure.
One common surgical treatment for shoulder impingement is subacromial decompression, which involves removing bone spurs or inflamed soft tissue to create more space for the rotator cuff tendons. This can significantly reduce pain and improve shoulder function.
Patients with rotator cuff tears may also benefit from surgical repair, depending on the size and severity of the tear.
Your consultant will discuss all appropriate treatment options with you, ensuring that your care plan is tailored to your condition, symptoms and lifestyle.
Some of the procedures we most commonly perform to treat elbow pain are;
An elbow arthroscopy is a keyhole operation where your Orthopaedic Surgeon will create up to four incisions in the area around your elbow joint. Your Orthopaedic Surgeon will then pass an arthroscope (a thin tube with a camera) into one of your incisions to allow the inside of your joint to be seen on a video monitor. Specialised surgical instruments are then passed into the other incisions to perform your treatment. This could include removing bone spurs or loose bodies (cartilage or bone fragments that could be floating inside your joint) or releasing a thickened joint capsule (lining) to help your joint move more freely. An arthroscopy can also be performed to release an inflamed tendon (tendonitis) which could be caused by tennis or golfer’s elbow.
Your Orthopaedic Surgeon can perform your tennis elbow surgery through an arthroscopy (keyhole elbow surgery) or an open operation where a single is incision is used instead. After locating the affected tendon, your Surgeon will create a small incision to release and clear the painful section of your tendon.
This operation involves making an incision in the back of your elbow to remove and replace the damaged sections of your humerus (upper arm bone) and ulna (a bone in your forearm) with artificial parts. These artificial parts, also known as a prosthesis, will form your new elbow joint. It will consist of a hinge with two stems that will fit into the hollow of both your ulna (lower arm bone) and humerus (upper arm bone). Your prosthesis could be made from metal, plastic or ceramic, or a mixture of these materials. It will be secured in place using bone cement (a synthetic resin).
After your operation has been performed, your incision(s) will be closed with stitches and a dressing will be placed over this area. Your Surgeon could place your arm into splint to protect your operated area.
*During the period of January to December 2025, Albyn Hospital received 3146 questionnaires from patients admitted for treatment.
If you would like to make an appointment with our Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon here at Albyn Hospital, simply call our friendly team on 01224595993
You can also book an initial appointment by using our handy online booking system.
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Fri: 8am-6pm
Sat: 8am-1:30pm
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