Elbow surgery

Private elbow surgery with Circle Health Group

Elbow surgery is a broad term for a range of surgical procedures involving your elbow joint. You may need elbow surgery if you have a condition or injury that affects your elbow and causes symptoms such as pain and difficulty moving your arm.

At Circle Health Group, our extensive network of specialist orthopaedic surgeons have the skills and experience to perform many different types of elbow surgery and ensure you get the best possible treatment and care. This page explains what elbow surgery is, looks at the types of elbow surgery, and explains what to expect during your treatment and recovery.

Call or book online today to arrange a consultation to discuss private elbow surgery with a consultant of your choice at Circle Health Group.

What is elbow surgery?

Elbow surgery includes any surgical procedures that are performed on the bones or soft tissues of your elbow joint.

Your elbow is a complex hinge joint in your arm that connects your upper arm bone (humerus) to your lower arm bones (radius and ulna). It allows you to bend and straighten your arm and rotate your forearm. There are several types of elbow surgery that can be used to treat a range of conditions and injuries. Elbow surgery aims to relieve pain and restore function and may involve repairing, reconstructing or replacing your elbow joint.

Paying for elbow surgery

Elbow surgery is a broad speciality covering many different procedures. The cost of your treatment will depend on which type of surgery you are having as well as the hospital and consultant you choose. Many of our individual treatment pages include guide prices, and you can also call our team and request a tailored quote for a specific procedure.

You can access private elbow surgery with us using private medical insurance or by paying for your own treatment.

Often elbow surgery will be covered by your private health insurance, but not always. Speak to your provider directly to see what's covered in your policy.

If you want to pay for your own treatment, you can either pay in full or take advantage of our flexible payment options, which allow you to spread the cost over a period of up to five years.

Our self-pay customers benefit from fixed-price packages, meaning you'll know exactly what you're going to pay before you book your surgery. Your initial consultation and early diagnostic tests won't be included, but the cost of your surgery and hospital fees are, and so is your aftercare programme (including physiotherapy). There are no hidden costs down the line.

You can also take advantage of our flexible payment options, allowing you to spread the cost of treatment using a monthly payment plan over a period that suits you.

Why might I need elbow surgery?

Your consultant may recommend elbow surgery if you have a condition or injury that causes elbow pain, stiffness or instability that hasn’t improved with other treatments.

Elbow surgery can be used to treat a range of conditions, including fractures, dislocations, tendon and ligament injuries and compressed nerves.

Common conditions that can be treated with elbow surgery

Some conditions that may be treated with elbow surgery include:

• Elbow arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Elbow fractures
• Elbow trauma
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer's elbow
• Elbow ligament injuries
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Elbow bursitis

What types of elbow surgery are available at Circle Health Group?

Some of the most common procedures our elbow surgeons perform include:

• Elbow replacement
• Stabilisation of an unstable elbow
• Elbow arthroscopy
• Stiff elbow release surgery

What happens before your elbow surgery?

Before your elbow surgery, you’ll need to have an appointment with a consultant orthopaedic surgeon to assess your condition, make a diagnosis and decide if elbow surgery is an appropriate treatment for you.

At your first consultation, your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, medical history and general health. They will examine your elbow for outward signs of injury or deformity, check for pain, tenderness and swelling and assess your range of motion (how well you can move your elbow).

Your consultant may ask to see the results of any tests or scans you have had previously, or they may arrange them on the day. These may include a blood test, X-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound.

During your appointment, your consultant will spend time getting to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. At Circle Health Group, we want you to be as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your time with us, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

It may help to write down any questions you have before your appointment, so you don’t forget them. You may want to ask about:

• The condition/injury you have
• What may have caused your condition
• Possible treatment options (including surgical and nonsurgical)
• The type of surgery you will have
• The type of anaesthetic that will be used
• Any possible risks and complications of the surgery
• The expected recovery time
• What the recovery and aftercare involve
• Any lifestyle changes you can make to prevent your condition from worsening/coming back

How to prepare for elbow surgery

Your consultant will tell you everything you need to do to prepare for your elbow surgery. Instructions on how to prepare will also be in your appointment letter.

If there’s anything you’re not sure about or if you have any questions, please contact the hospital for advice.

Pre-operative assessment

Around a week or two before your surgery, you may need to attend the hospital for a pre-operative assessment to make sure you are fit for surgery. Take any medication you take regularly with you to your appointment. At the preoperative assessment, we will check your weight and blood pressure and order tests such as a blood test, chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate your general health.

Optimise your general health

It's important to be in the best possible health before your elbow surgery as this will allow your procedure to go as smoothly as possible, speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of any complications after your surgery.

To ensure you are as healthy as possible before your surgery:

• Stop smoking at least eight weeks before your procedure. Smoking increases the risk of complications such as breathing difficulties and infection, and can impair wound healing. Your consultant can offer you advice and support with quitting smoking before your surgery
• Follow a healthy, nutritious diet
• Take regular exercise
• Avoid alcohol for a few days before your surgery. Alcohol thins your blood and can increase the risk of bleeding during your operation

Preparing your home

You can help your recovery by preparing your home and arranging help with household chores, children or pets before your surgery.

You may want to:

• Stock up on food and prepare a few meals in advance that you can freeze and heat up during your recovery
• Arrange for child and pet care if needed
• Arrange for someone to help you with household chores and personal care for the first week or so during your recovery
• Keep things you use regularly, such as your glasses, medications, useful telephone numbers, a book and the TV remote control within easy reach

Regular medications

Your consultant may tell you to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, for a few days before your surgery. This is to minimise the risk of bleeding during and after your procedure.

On the day of your surgery

On the day of your elbow surgery, take a shower before you arrive at the hospital. Do not apply any products to your skin, such as lotions, creams, make up or perfume. Leave any valuables and jewellery at home.

If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will not be able to eat or drink anything from midnight on the day of your elbow surgery.

What happens during elbow surgery?

Before your elbow surgery, you’ll need to sign a consent form to say that you agree to have the procedure and are aware of what it entails and the possible risks and complications of the surgery.

What happens during your elbow surgery depends on the type of surgery you are having, as well as your diagnosis, general health and the consultant’s preferences.

Surgery can be performed as arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery, where your consultant performs surgery using a flexible tube and a camera through small incisions in your skin, or open surgery through a single large incision.

For some types of elbow surgery, you may be given general anaesthesia, where you’ll be asleep for the procedure. Other procedures may be carried out using a regional nerve block or local anaesthetic to numb your arm during the surgery so that you won’t feel any pain.

Recovering from elbow surgery

Recovering from any type of surgery is a gradual process that is different for everyone. Recovering from elbow surgery depends on several factors, including your age, general health, the type of procedure you had and your individual recovery process.

You can help your recovery go more smoothly by being as well-informed as possible about your surgery and recovery, taking things at your own pace and following your consultant’s post-operative instructions carefully. Call the hospital if you have any questions or concerns.

The amount of time you need to stay in hospital after your elbow surgery varies depending on the type of surgery you had. If you had minor, arthroscopic surgery, you may be able to go home the same day, but you can expect to spend around five days in hospital after elbow replacement surgery.

You won’t be able to drive yourself home from the hospital after your elbow surgery, so please arrange for someone to come and collect you when you are discharged.

You will probably have some pain, bruising and swelling after your elbow surgery. This will resolve gradually over the next few days. Take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to manage any pain and keep your elbow elevated to help reduce swelling.

You will likely wear a splint or sling to protect your elbow for around a week after your elbow surgery.

You can drive once you are no longer taking strong pain medication, can comfortably grip the steering wheel with both hands, and can perform an emergency stop. Depending on the procedure you had, this may be as soon as two weeks after your surgery. For some complex procedures, such as elbow replacement, you may not be able to drive for around two months. Talk to your consultant about when you can expect to resume driving after your elbow surgery.

Once your initial healing period is over, you will probably start physiotherapy to prevent stiffness, improve your circulation, build strength and restore movement and range of motion in your elbow.

When you can return to work after your elbow surgery depends on the type of surgery you had and the job you do. Your consultant will be able to advise you on when you can expect to go back to work after your elbow surgery.

Depending on your procedure, full recovery can take from a few months to up to a year.

Potential risks and complications of elbow surgery

Elbow surgery is a generally safe procedure, but as with any type of surgery, there is a small risk of complications.

Your consultant will explain all the possible risks and complications of elbow surgery before your procedure and answer any questions you may have. It’s important that you are fully informed about any possible risks and complications before your procedure and are able to make an informed decision. You can help minimise the risk of complications by following the instructions you are given on how to prepare for your procedure and what to do afterwards.

Possible complications of any type of surgery include:

• Adverse reactions to the anaesthetic
• Bleeding
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Wound infection
• Damage to nearby structures
• Chest infection

Possible complications specific to elbow surgery depend on the type of surgery, but may include:

• Broken screws or plates
• Bone misalignment
• Poor bone or wound healing
• Post-operative stiffness
• Loosening of the implant
• Fractures around the implant

Why choose Circle Health Group for elbow surgery?

At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care, including:

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suits your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious, healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about private elbow surgery, book your appointment online or call a member of our team today.

How to book elbow surgery with Circle Health Group

The first step is usually an initial consultation. Unless your GP or insurer has told you otherwise, you should book your first appointment with one of our orthopaedic consultants near you.

You can do this by calling our dedicated team of friendly advisors, or by taking advantage of our easy online booking system.

Clinical sources and further reading

1. Elbow Surgery Options Johns Hopkins Medicine
2. Elbow Surgery Cleveland Clinic
3. Elbow Surgery Options Arthritis Foundation