Patients › Shoulder

Shoulder

Plain-English information about shoulder conditions, operations, and recovery.

How your shoulder works

How your shoulder works Shoulder anatomy overview – bones (clavicle, scapula, humerus) and how they enable wide range of motion. Open →

Conditions

AC Joint Osteoarthritis AC joint osteoarthritis causes localized shoulder pain with cross-body movements; treatment ranges from activity modification to surgery. Open → Acromioclavicular Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation) A shoulder separation from a fall on the point of the shoulder — grading, the bump that may remain, and when surgery is needed. Open → Biceps Tendinopathy and Long-Head Rupture Front-of-shoulder biceps tendon pain and the "Popeye" long-head rupture — and why the rupture usually needs no surgery. Open → Calcific Tendinitis Calcific tendinitis causes shoulder pain from calcium deposits; treatment ranges from observation to washing out the calcium. Open → Clavicle Fracture Clavicle fractures — when conservative management is fine and when fixation is indicated. Open → Cuff Arthropathy Rotator cuff arthropathy: shoulder arthritis following a long-standing, massive rotator cuff tear and its impact on function. Open → Distal Clavicle Osteolysis Open → EnFix Biological Scaffold Open → Frozen Shoulder Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) causes pain and stiffness, progressing through freezing, frozen, and thawing phases. Open → Os Acromiale Patient-facing topic on os acromiale — failed fusion of an acromial ossification centre that may cause shoulder pain and contribute to subacromial impingement. Open → Pectoralis Major Rupture A chest-muscle tear, classically during a heavy bench press — how to recognise it and why complete tears are usually repaired early. Open → Proximal Humerus Fracture Proximal humerus fractures — Neer classification, sling management, and surgical options. Open → Rotator Cuff Disorders Rotator cuff disorders: common causes of shoulder pain, ranging from mild ache to debilitating injury. Open → Shoulder Arthritis Shoulder arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion — diagnosis and treatment options explored. Open → Shoulder Clicking, Popping and Instability Why a shoulder clicks, pops or feels like it slips — from harmless noises to labral tears and instability — what it means, and when it needs attention. Open → Shoulder Instability Shoulder instability — understanding the feeling of looseness, causes, and treatment options. Open → SLAP and Biceps Pathology Superior labral (SLAP) tears and disorders of the long head of biceps — assessment and treatment. Open → Sternoclavicular Joint Disorders Problems where the collarbone meets the breastbone — arthritis, instability and the rare but serious posterior dislocation — and how each is managed. Open → Subacromial Impingement and Bursitis Subacromial impingement — causes of shoulder pain with overhead activity, diagnosis, and treatment options. Open → Suprascapular neuropathy Open → Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Compression of the nerves and vessels at the base of the neck — the types, why diagnosis is tricky, and physio-first treatment. Open →

Operations

AC Joint Stabilisation Surgical reconstruction for high-grade AC joint dislocation (Rockwood III-VI). Open → Anterior Shoulder Stabilisation Arthroscopic Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability — distinct from open Latarjet. Open → Biceps Tenodesis Biceps tenodesis and tenotomy — when, where (suprapectoral vs subpectoral) and what to expect afterwards. Open → Capsular Release for Frozen Shoulder Arthroscopic capsular release frees a stiff shoulder (frozen shoulder) when physiotherapy and injections fail. Open → Clavicle Fracture Fixation Clavicle fixation (ORIF) — restoring alignment and stability for displaced clavicle fractures. Open → Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM) The Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM) procedure — a joint-preserving arthroscopic alternative to arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis, combining debridement, capsular release, osteophyte excision, microfracture, loose-body removal and axillary nerve neurolysis. Open → Distal Clavicle Excision (Mumford Procedure) A Mumford procedure (distal clavicle excision) removes the small worn outer tip of the collarbone to ease shoulder pain at the AC joint. What the keyhole operation involves and what recovery looks like. Open → Latarjet Procedure Latarjet procedure — bone block transfer for recurrent shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss. Open → Proximal Humerus Fracture ORIF (Plate and Nail Fixation) Open → Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Reverse shoulder replacement for severe rotator cuff tears and arthritis—when a traditional replacement isn’t ideal. Open → Revision rotator cuff repair Open → Revision Shoulder Replacement Revision shoulder replacement — addressing failure of prior shoulder replacements with a reverse design. Open → Rotator Cuff Repair Rotator cuff repair reattaches torn tendons to bone, improving pain and function when conservative treatment fails. Open → Shoulder Arthroplasty for Acute Proximal Humerus Fracture Open → Shoulder Arthroscopy What shoulder arthroscopy is, what it's used for, and how to prepare and recover. Open → Subacromial Decompression Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for impingement and bursitis — operation and recovery. Open → Suprascapular nerve decompression Open → Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Total shoulder replacement for severe arthritis — stemless options if rotator cuff is intact. Open →

Recovery and rehabilitation

Blood Thinners Around Surgery How anticoagulants and antiplatelets work, and why the timing of stopping each before surgery differs — platelet turnover, half-lives and clot risk. Open → Cast and splint care at home Looking after a plaster or splint at home — keeping it dry, elevation, keeping joints moving, and the urgent signs of a too-tight cast. Open → Constipation and gut care after surgery Why constipation is common after surgery (especially with strong painkillers) and how to prevent and manage it. Open → Daily life after hand, wrist or elbow surgery Keeping a hand or wrist dressing dry, elevation to control swelling, and one-handed living after hand, wrist or elbow surgery. Open → Daily life after shoulder surgery Washing, dressing, sleeping and managing day-to-day with the operated arm in a sling after shoulder surgery. Open → Driving After Shoulder and Arm Surgery: When Is It Safe and Legal? After most shoulder surgery, including rotator cuff repair, you usually cannot drive for about six weeks, and not while your arm is in a sling. When it is safe and legal to get back to the wheel after hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder surgery. Open → Eating well for healing Everyday food to support recovery after surgery — protein, energy, healing vitamins, and preventing constipation. Open → Fasting Before Surgery: What You Can Eat and Drink, and Why Why you must stop eating before an anaesthetic, when you can still sip water, and what can happen if you do not fast. The clear fasting rules that keep your stomach empty and your lungs safe during surgery. Open → Flying and travel after surgery Clot risk, cast tightness at altitude, fitness to fly and the practicalities of travelling after upper-limb surgery. Open → Hand therapy basics What to expect from hand therapy, how often you'll go, and what good rehab looks like. Open → Heat vs Ice When ice helps, when heat helps, and how to use either safely on the upper limb. Open → Is my wound infected? How to tell normal healing from a wound infection after surgery — the warning signs and when to seek help. Open → Looking after your wound Dressings, showering, and signs of infection after upper-limb surgery. Open → Managing pain after surgery What pain to expect, how to use pain relief well, and when to call. Open → Mind, Stress and Recovery How stress, low mood, anxiety and worry about pain affect recovery and surgical outcomes — and what helps. Open → Preparing for Surgery General checklist for the days before upper-limb surgery — fasting, what to bring, medications. Open → Preventing Blood Clots After Surgery Reducing the risk of deep vein thrombosis after upper-limb surgery — mobilisation, hydration, medication. Open → Returning to sport Phased return to sport after upper-limb surgery, and when contact sport is safe again. Open → Returning to work When you can return to desk, light, and heavy work after upper-limb surgery. Open → Scar Management Massage, silicone, sun protection and the 12-month timeline for surgical scars to soften and fade. Open → Sleep, Pain and Recovery How sleep and pain affect each other, why surgery and shoulder problems disturb sleep, and what helps you rest and recover. Open → Swelling and elevation after surgery Why a hand or arm swells after surgery, how elevation and gentle movement control it, and when swelling is a warning sign. Open → The day of your surgery What to expect on the day of day-case upper-limb surgery, from arrival and meeting the team to waking up and going home. Open → Wearing and Sleeping in an Arm Sling How to sleep in an arm sling, get the sling position right, and look after it after shoulder, elbow or wrist surgery, including whether to keep the sling on overnight. Open → Your shoulder nerve block The nerve block we use for shoulder surgery — how it numbs your arm, why it controls pain so well, and what to expect as it wears off. Open → Your wound check and stitch removal What happens at the post-op wound check, dissolvable vs removable stitches, what removal feels like, and when to seek help sooner. Open →

Explore Shoulder in the evidence explorer →