Shoulder & elbow surgery

You may have an ache or a catching feeling in the central part of your shoulder, or pain down the outside of your upper arm.

You may find that your pain tends to get worse as you move your shoulder away from your body or up into the air over head height. Often the pain is worse at night, causing sleeping difficulties as you struggle to get comfortable. With added exhaustion to contend with, your quality of life can quickly go downhill.

Patients coming to our clinic at Princess Margaret can often be put into one of three categories:

• Younger patients: often the problem relates to stability issues of the ball and socket, possibly due to a dislocation (often through sport or injury) or collarbone injuries
• Middle-aged patients with rotator cuff injuries (the four muscles around the shoulder blade/scapula) or frozen shoulder (stiffness and pain)
• Older patients with rotator cuff failure and shoulder arthritis

Those with elbow concerns tend to have issues relating to:

• Tendon degeneration or failure (Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow), causing problems with grip, rotation of the forearm, and use of the elbow in general
• Trauma, resulting in fractures or dislocation
• Arthritis in the elbow joint, causing pain and stiffness

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms or issues, you may be understandably concerned and eager to find relief.

Fortunately, rapid expert assessment and diagnosis is available at Princess Margaret for patients in Windsor, Berkshire and the surrounding areas, offering a personalised treatment plan to bring you relief from your symptoms as soon as possible.

This may involve exercise-based therapy and lifestyle modifications, or cortisone steroid injections. Your consultant will discuss with you if this is appropriate. Steroid injections reduce the pain and enable other forms of rehab (which would have been previously unachievable due to the pain). This is why they are commonly used in conjunction with physiotherapy.

If your symptoms continue, or your problem will not be fixed by therapy and an injection, then surgery may be your best option. Nowadays, many shoulder and elbow surgeries can be offered via keyhole surgery, which minimises complications and post-operative pain.

The shoulder and elbow specialists at The Princess Margaret offer the full range of surgical procedures for shoulder and elbow conditions, including advance arthroscopic (keyhole) techniques, open soft-tissue reconstructions and joint replacement.

Commonly performed shoulder operations include:

• Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair,
• Arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation,
• Open shoulder stabilisation,
• Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction
• Shoulder replacement.

Joint replacement surgery can be hugely beneficial for those with severe arthritis, where the ball-and-socket joint is worn out. The diseased bone ends are removed and replaced with artificial implants, made of a specialized plastic and metal. Modern 3D pre-operative templating allows your surgeon to select the ideal implant design for your shoulder and insert the components with the very best alignment and fixation to optimise your outcome and the longevity of your replacement. 

Physiotherapy plays a vital role in any rehabilitation of shoulder or elbow conditions, and we have excellent physiotherapy services at Princess Margaret. A course of physiotherapy specifically designed for your condition or injury may be enough in itself to help rehabilitate your shoulder or elbow, preventing further injury and helping to strengthen and mobilise the limb while you recover.

Our dedicated physiotherapy team are also on offer for both pre-surgery and post-surgery sessions, ensuring you have the highest chances of success.

Assessments ASAP – Certain shoulder & elbow conditions are best treated at the earliest possible stage. If you’ve been experiencing any of the associated symptoms, our consultants can see you for an assessment without delay, getting you an accurate diagnosis rapidly and the necessary treatment before your symptoms progress any further.

Patient Satisfaction – 97.9% of patients in 2020 said they would happily recommend Princess Margaret Hospital to friends and family in an independent report, and we’re confident that you’ll agree. 98% also said that the quality of care here at Princess Margaret Hospital was either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.

One-Stop Shop – Some minor procedures can be done on the same day as your initial consultation, making Princess Margaret a ‘one-stop shop’ for certain treatments, such as steroid injections to relieve symptoms and ease your pain.

Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.

A Multidisciplinary Approach – Our teams at Princess Margaret work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely with a dedicated physiotherapy team, alongside specialist musculoskeletal radiographers, anaesthetists, and nurses, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way during your treatment.

Convenient appointments – With appointments available at dedicated clinics from Monday to Saturday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.

If pain in your shoulder or elbow has been concerning you, why not book a consultation with one of our orthopaedic specialists today? Our consultants can outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any necessary diagnostic scans, treatment and surgery if required.

For peace of mind and expert care, book an appointment online now.