Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

There are many reasons why your shoulder or elbow may hurt. The pain can develop over time or occur suddenly during sports activities, for example. Whatever your specific problem, Capio Privathospital offers you quick access to a thorough examination and treatment by experienced specialists in shoulder and elbow surgery.

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We are experts in shoulder and elbow problems

For the arm and shoulder to function optimally, the shoulder and elbow joints must be mobile and pain-free. At Capio Privathospital, we offer treatment for many troublesome shoulder and elbow conditions, including tennis elbow, joint dislocation and frozen shoulder, performed by highly specialized surgical staff.

Our specialists take care of your pain

We will always explore whether a course of physiotherapy or blockade treatment may be sufficient to relieve or improve your pain before planning surgery. This way, you will always receive the most gentle treatment.

In cases where scans and clinical examinations have not been sufficient to make a clear diagnosis, our experts may choose to perform a shoulder or elbow arthroscopy. This is a safe and highly effective binocular examination that can also be used to operate on conditions such as elbow osteoarthritis. Whatever your treatment plan, our goal is to make you feel safe and comfortable during your time with us.

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Information about shoulder and elbow surgery

Arthroscopic surgery (arthroscopy) of the elbow or shoulder

At Capio, we offer both shoulder and elbow surgery (shoulder and elbow arthroscopy), which is an effective and gentle form of surgery.

Frozen shoulder

A frozen shoulder is a connective tissue disorder of the shoulder joint capsule and its surroundings that typically occurs between the ages of 40-60 and is somewhat more common in women than men. The two main symptoms are reduced mobility and pain.

A frozen shoulder can be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon and/or a rheumatologist. In many cases, you will first see a rheumatologist and then be referred for assessment and treatment by an orthopaedic surgeon if treatment is not sufficient. Either way, it's important to get treatment started quickly.

Treatment of shoulder pain
Treatment consists primarily of relieving the bothersome pain in the shoulder, for example with painkillers or magnyl-like substances. Adrenal cortex hormone injected into the shoulder joint often provides significant relief.

In the acute phase, i.e. the first 2-3 months, it is important to protect the arm. Therefore, exercises and strain will mostly worsen the condition. Much later in the process, exercise therapy may be given. Pain relief can also be achieved with ultrasound or ice packs. In up to 10% of cases, surgical treatment is offered, where a surgical procedure is performed to loosen the shrunken joint capsule. You can expect to regain your mobility immediately.

Tennis elbow

Tennis elbow causes pain in the area around the outside of the elbow. The condition usually resolves on its own without treatment, but if more than three months have passed, you may benefit from further treatment.

Static movements are known to be a trigger, including certain postures and sports activities. The pain is most likely caused by small tears in the connective tissue that holds the muscles of the elbow to the bone. In most cases, the inflammation occurs as a result of overloading the tissue around the elbow.

Treatment options
Before surgery is considered, a number of treatments should be tried, many of which are beneficial. Initially, it's important to rest the elbow and give it a break from the activity that has caused the problem. A rheumatologist will often be able to help many patients with tennis elbow, where exercise, acupuncture, shockwave therapy, as well as treatment with anti-inflammatory medication and injections of adrenal cortex hormone (a blockade) can be effective.

If we decide that surgery is right for you, you will be treated by some of the country's most skilled orthopaedic surgeons specializing in shoulder and elbow problems.

Golf elbow

If there is persistent pain around the bony prominence on the inside of the elbow, it could be a golf elbow. The pain is most likely caused by an overload of the elbow, where small tears in the elbow's connective tissue become irritated and an inflammatory condition develops. The overload can occur after hard and unaccustomed physical activity, but it also often happens due to prolonged static loading, such as mouse or keyboard work.

Treatments

Golf elbow is a condition that usually resolves on its own with rest and relief, without the need for further treatment. However, if the condition lasts more than three months, further treatment may be required. Often, you will initially be seen by a rheumatologist and/or physiotherapist before being referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. For example, the rheumatologist may offer an injection of adrenal cortex hormone directly into the painful connective tissue (a blockade), or anti-infective medication may be given, which may be repeated after a few months. Golf elbow surgery is rarely performed if other treatments have not had the desired effect and when symptoms have been long-lasting.

Torn tendon in the shoulder (Rotator cuff)

The rotator cuff is the name given to four shoulder muscles and their tendons. After a dislocation or blow to the shoulder, some patients, mainly middle-aged people, can suffer a so-called rotator cuff lesion, which is caused by a tear of the rotator cuff tendons. Some people have limited discomfort, while others have pain and difficulty lifting their arm to the side or rotating it outwards.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome (Impingement)

Shoulder impingement syndrome, also known as impingement, is a common diagnosis in our shoulder patients and can be briefly described as a soft tissue impingement. At Capio, we can help you with assessment and treatment for the condition.

Blockade treatment

If you have overloaded joints or tendons, an ultrasound-guided blockade can help, either on its own or as a supplement to exercise therapy. A blockade is an injection into a joint, around a tendon or at a ligament. The injection contains a mixture of adrenal cortex hormone and local anesthetic. The blockade works by suppressing the active irritation, which can reduce pain and swelling. Sometimes a blockade can completely resolve the condition, and other times it will need to be repeated at approximately eight-week intervals.

Worsening of symptoms after blockade

It's common to experience a worsening of symptoms after a blockade, which will often manifest as pain and tenderness around the injection site. The worsening usually subsides after one to two days. If you are bothered by the symptoms, you can take some mild painkillers to alleviate them. In areas where you already have thin skin, blockades can cause permanent thinning of the subcutaneous tissue and permanent pigmentation changes in the area. Our doctors will guide you thoroughly before applying the blockade.

Shoulder alloplasty

Shoulder alloplasty is a procedure where an artificial shoulder joint is inserted to reduce pain and improve mobility in patients with shoulder conditions. There are different types of prostheses that can be inserted and the choice depends on the patient's condition and the reason for the procedure.

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