Shoulder surgery in Bolton

You may benefit from shoulder surgery if you have persistent pain and symptoms in your shoulder that have not been alleviated with physiotherapy, medication, or steroid injections.

At The Beaumont Hospital we have a dedicated team of shoulder pain specialists on-site throughout the week to help manage and even eliminate your pain. We offer a range of sophisticated diagnostic testing and effective treatment options for debilitating shoulder pain, including tailored surgery such as shoulder replacement surgery.

The Beaumont Hospital is located in Bolton in Greater Manchester. People visit us from across Lancashire and the North West, from local areas including Wigan, Bury, Chorley, Leigh, Worsley and Burnley. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you.

When you choose to go private at The Beaumont Hospital, you get access to fast, effective shoulder treatment with a consultant of your choice. We work quickly to treat, manage and even eliminate your shoulder pain. Some of the most common conditions that shoulder surgery can treat include:

• Shoulder fractures
• Shoulder dislocations
• Frozen shoulder
• Rotator cuff tears
• Arthritis

Some of the most common shoulder procedures offered at The Beaumont include:

• Shoulder arthroscopy (keyhole shoulder surgery)
• Shoulder replacement
• Shoulder manipulation for frozen shoulder
• Shoulder dislocation surgery
• Rotator cuff surgery

Shoulder arthroscopy, also called keyhole shoulder surgery, is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under either local or general anaesthesia.

What happens during a shoulder arthroscopy?

During the operation, your surgeon will create a few small incisions across your shoulder. They will insert an arthroscope - a long, thin tube with a camera connected to a screen - and other small surgical instruments through the incisions. Your consultant will then make the necessary repairs using the images on the screen to guide them. Arthroscopy can treat a variety of conditions affecting the shoulder, including:

• Frozen shoulder
• Shoulder dislocations
• Rotator cuff injury
• Mild arthritis

The surgery might be recommended if you have one of the above conditions (or another condition that causes you pain) and doesn't respond to non-surgical treatment options such as:

• Rest
• Physiotherapy
• Medications and injections

Risks and complications

It is important to know that risks and complications that occur because of a shoulder arthroscopy are rare. These include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Blood vessel damage
• Nerve damage

Recovery from arthroscopic shoulder surgery

The length of the recovery and the rehabilitation period depends on how complex the procedure is and your overall health. You may be able to return to work within days of your surgery.

Recovery can last between several days to several months. You will have to follow a physiotherapy program during this time. We have a network of dedicated physiotherapists that will help build your plan according to your needs.

Shoulder replacement surgery might be recommended in severe stages of shoulder arthritis when your joint is badly damaged. Other conditions that may require shoulder replacement for treatment include:

• Rotator cuff arthropathy, which is a form of arthritis that develops as a result of an untreated rotator cuff tear
• Osteonecrosis, which occurs when there is a lack of blood supply to your bone
• Severe fractures

What happens during shoulder replacement surgery?

Before your shoulder replacement, you will receive a general anaesthetic. During the surgery, your consultant will use artificial prostheses to replace the damaged parts of your joint. The entire shoulder replacement procedure takes around two to three hours.

The types of shoulder replacements offered at the Beaumont are:

• Total shoulder replacement: when the top of your upper arm bone, as well as the socket of your shoulder, are replaced
• Reverse total shoulder replacement: when both your upper arm bone and the socket of your shoulder are replaced, but the positions of these prosthetics are reversed

Benefits and risks of shoulder replacement surgery

There are many benefits of the surgery. Shoulder replacements vastly improve:

• Function and strength of the shoulder
• Your ability to do daily tasks
• Your pain levels
• Your overall quality of life

However, there are also risks associated with shoulder replacement surgery. It is important to remember that these are rare and can occur during any surgery, no matter how minimally invasive. These include:

• Anaesthesia risks
• Infection
• Prosthesis problems
• Excessive bleeding
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage (very rare)
• Blood vessel damage (very rare)
• A shoulder dislocation (very rare)

Recovery from shoulder replacement surgery

You will be in hospital for a few days after surgery. After the surgery, you will have your arm in a brace. Your surgeon will prescribe strong pain relief and antibiotics to prevent infection.

You will also have to ice your shoulder to reduce the pain. You will begin a course of physiotherapy on the next day after surgery. The physio program will last a few weeks. You will likely not be able to drive for four to six weeks.

Most people see the most improvement from their shoulder replacement six months after surgery, but you may continue to see improvement for up to 12 months after surgery.

Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the strong connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joint thickens and becomes stiff and tight. Thick stretches of tissue, called adhesions, may also develop. This makes your shoulder hard to move.

What to expect during frozen shoulder manipulation

Shoulder manipulation occurs under general anaesthesia. Your surgeon will move your frozen joint, stretching or tearing the shoulder capsule and the adhesions. This improves the motion of your shoulder and relaxes it.

Risks and complications

There are risks associated with shoulder replacement surgery. It is important to remember that these are rare and can occur during any surgery, no matter how minimally invasive. These include:

• Nerve injury
• Damage to the surrounding soft tissue
• Fracture
• Anaesthesia risks
• Persistent pain, instability, or stiffness in your shoulder

Recovery from frozen shoulder surgery

Shoulder manipulation is performed as a day case, so you will go home on the same day of the procedure. You will be prescribed painkillers for one to two weeks. During this period, you may continue to have pain and swelling in your shoulder.

Your consultant may ask you to ice the swollen area, sleep in a specific position, and start physiotherapy.

The recovery period from shoulder manipulation ranges between six weeks to three months. People may continue to see improvement in their shoulder function and mobility for almost one year.

A shoulder dislocation can usually be fixed non-surgically through a procedure called reduction, during which your consultant fits your shoulder joint back into your socket under general anaesthesia.

However, in some cases, reduction fails, or your shoulder may be damaged due to the dislocation. In these situations, surgery may be required to treat your dislocation effectively.

What happens during shoulder dislocation surgery?

Shoulder dislocations are often performed arthroscopically under general anaesthesia. During the procedure, your consultant will repair the torn cartilage or tighten the stretched tendons and ligaments that hold your shoulder joint in place. They will do this by repositioning or shifting the torn ligament or cartilage closer to your bone and removing any loose tissue.

Risks and complications

The risks are rare, but they include:

• Infection
• Damage to cartilage and blood vessels
• Nerve injury
• Fracture
• Stiffness
• Persistent symptoms such as shoulder instability or pain
• Blood clots

Recover from shoulder dislocation surgery

If the procedure is done arthroscopically, you will be discharged on the day of the surgery. Your doctor will prescribe pain relieving medication. Your arm and shoulder will be in a sling for four to six weeks.

After six weeks, you will follow a course of physiotherapy for around six months to regain strength and motion in your shoulder.

Rotator cuff surgery can help repair a tear in your rotator cuff (the group of tendons and muscles that keeps the shoulder in place). The surgery may be recommended in the following situations:

• Your tear was caused by a recent shoulder injury
• Your pain didn't get better with non-surgical treatments such as rest, painkillers, physiotherapy, or steroid injections
• Your symptoms have lasted between six and 12 months
• You've got a larger tear
• Your shoulder is weak and has reduced function

What happens during rotator cuff surgery?

Rotator cuff repair can be performed as open surgery, arthroscopically, or a combination of both. Open surgeries are recommended for large or complex tears.

During the open procedure, your consultant will make an incision over your shoulder and gently push aside the shoulder muscles to get better access to the damaged tendon. In arthroscopic procedures, which are less invasive, detaching the shoulder muscles is not necessary.

Your consultant will remove bone spurs from under the acromion - the bony edge at the very top of your shoulder blade.

Recover from rotator cuff surgery

You will be prescribed pain relief after surgery. For the first six weeks, you will have to wear a sling to immobilise your arm. During this time, you will follow a physiotherapy rehabilitation program with strengthening exercises to help regain strength and mobility in your shoulder.

Full recovery takes up to six months for most people.

At The Beaumont Hospital in Bolton, you'll be seen quickly and treated efficiently. Our latest satisfaction surveys show that over 98% of our clients would recommend our excellent services to their friends and family.

The hospital also boasts newly refurbished facilities, modern diagnostic facilities, and comfortable ensuite hospital rooms. In addition, our team of well-established surgeons are dedicated to your speedy recovery.

The Beaumont offers a comprehensive aftercare package following your surgery and flexible payment options that make private shoulder surgery more affordable than you might think.

Book an appointment with one of our consultants to discuss if spinal surgery is right for you. You can book an appointment online or by phoning a member of our advisory team.