According to Harvard Health Publishing, your shoulder is the most flexible part of your body – but because it’s so flexible, it’s prone to various types of injuries.Shoulder pain isfairly common, and many people will be affected by it at some point in their lives.
Elbow problems are also relatively common, especially if you play sports or have a job where you use your arms. Issues with your shoulders and elbows can be caused by repetitive strain, injuries, inflammation and joint conditions such as arthritis. This can cause pain and swelling, along with restricting your range of motion.
It’s important to be aware that if your shoulder or elbow pain lasts longer than two weeks, you should be examined by a physiotherapist or orthopaedic Consultant. This will enable them to diagnose and treat the cause, and stop the disorder progressing and becoming a chronic issue. They will aim to relieve pain and use physical therapy to build strength again.
At Circle Health, we are proud to facilitate Consultants who can help test, diagnose, and treat or manage your shoulder and elbow issues in order to help improve your quality of life.
- Painful joints
- Torn ligaments
- Shoulder or elbow injury
- Tendonitis
- Sprains
- Strains (such as tennis elbow)
- Arthritis
- Swelling
Whether you have chronic or acute shoulder and elbow issues, our team will strive to reduce your symptoms through effective treatment.
Partial shoulder arthroplasty
The partial shoulder arthroplasty is used for the reconstruction of painful shoulders resulting from post-traumatic degenerative disease or avascular necrosis (when bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply).
The surgery aims to restore the articular surface geometry of the humeral head (the end of the humerus bone, which runs from the shoulder to the elbow), whilst preserving the anatomy of your shoulder joint.
Shoulder surgery (arthroscopic subacromial decompression)
Arthroscopic subacromial decompression surgery is used to remove inflammation around the muscles that move your shoulder, and to remove spurs of bone (bony growths which have formed on normal bone). This type of surgery is performed via keyhole surgery.
Elbow replacement
An elbow replacement is usually suitable for people who have arthritis. If you have severe pain, stiffness and disability, an elbow replacement should reduce your pain and help you to move your arm more easily.
The operation usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Your surgeon will make a cut on the back of your elbow and remove the damaged joint surfaces. They will replace these with an artificial elbow made with metal, plastic or ceramic, or a combination of these materials.
Arthroscopic latarjet
An arthroscopic latarjet is a procedure to treat shoulder instability. The latarjet procedure involves the transfer of the coracoid (a small hook like structure that stabilises the shoulder joint) with the attached conjoint tendon to the deficient area. This replaces the missing bone and the transferred muscle helps to prevent further dislocations.
Comprehensive arthroscopic management (CAM)
The CAM procedure uses a variety of minimally invasive surgery techniques to target three areas of your shoulder. The focus is alleviating pain along the back and side of the shoulder.
The first stage targets loose labrum tissue and the bone is then smoothed out within the joint. The second step then releases any scarred ligaments and tissues, restoring mobility.
The final element of the procedure is arguably the most important as it decompresses the axillary nerve, which alleviates much of the pain associated with shoulder arthritis. This consists of removing bone spurs, as well as scar tissue, which may have trapped the nerve causing pain.
To get started, you can book a consultation online with one of our many experienced Consultants. This is a simple and fast process. You can also book your consultation by calling 01413 005 009, or by making an email enquiry.
To familiarise yourself with the many treatment options for shoulder and elbow issues that we offer, you can read our informative, in-depth treatment pages. This could help you to decide which treatment option might suit you best.
At your consultation, you will likely receive important diagnostic testing and discuss the right treatment option for you with your Consultant.