Private shoulder arthroscopy surgery guide

For private shoulder arthroscopy surgery enquiries call 0333 321 1961

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Shoulder arthroscopy surgery at a glance

Shoulder arthroscopy surgery prices and locations

What is shoulder arthroscopy surgery?

Arthroscopic surgeries are performed via keyhole surgery using an arthroscope attached to a video camera. Shoulder arthroscopy surgery is used to repair damage caused to the shoulder through trauma, wear and tear, or damage to the ligaments and tendons.

Who is it for?

Shoulder arthroscopy is recommended for patients with torn or damaged shoulder ligaments, shoulder dislocation instability, damaged bicep tendons, and rotator cuff tendon tears.

Symptoms

The main symptom that indicates the need for shoulder arthroscopy is pain. This will usually manifest when the patient is moving the affected arm.

Shoulder arthroscopy success rates and benefits

Shoulder arthroscopy surgery is generally considered to be a procedure with a high success rate. Around 90% of patients worldwide indicate they experience a reduction in shoulder pain.

The main benefits of shoulder arthroscopy are:

  • reduced pain
  • increased mobility in the affected shoulder
  • improved quality of life and wellbeing.

Shoulder arthroscopy complications

As with any operation, there are risks. For shoulder arthroscopy surgery, these include:

  • stiffness
  • infection
  • fracture
  • nerve damage.

You should talk to your consultant if you have any concerns about undergoing shoulder arthroscopy.


Patient testimonial

“My operation was conducted by a top class surgeon and anaesthetist who made me feel relaxed and secure. There were no delays in treatment – my stay was made as comfortable as possible and I thank everyone involved.”

Iain Robertson, Practice Plus Group patient

Private shoulder arthroscopy costs

Shoulder arthroscopy surgery costs in the UK range from anywhere between £3,000 to £6,500 depending on the location and the healthcare provider.

At Practice Plus Group, our shoulder arthroscopy surgery costs just £5,320.

Ways to pay

There are 3 ways to access arthroscopy shoulder surgery at Practice Plus Group:

Waiting times for shoulder arthroscopy operations

According to the latest information on My Planned Care, the current waiting time for shoulder surgery on the NHS is around seven months.

At Practice Plus Group, the waiting time for shoulder arthroscopy surgery is between just 4-6 weeks.

What to expect

While the prospect of any surgery can be a daunting one, the information below sets out what to specifically expect from a shoulder arthroscopy procedure.

Preparing for surgery

There may be a handful of necessary measures you need to take before having shoulder arthroscopy surgery. These will likely include stopping taking specific medication (if applicable) and maintaining a good level of general health. It’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor about your upcoming operation.

The shoulder arthroscopy procedure

The surgery itself will start with the administration of anaesthetic. The type of anaesthetic needed will depend on the surgeon’s recommendations. Most shoulder arthroscopy patients will receive general anaesthetic and a neck nerve blocker in their affected shoulder.

During the procedure, the surgeon will insert a tiny camera into your shoulder via a series of small incisions. This camera (or arthroscope) will allow him or her to examine the damage which will then be repaired using surgical instruments. The surgeon may also remove any damaged shoulder tissue. The wound is then closed with stitches or plasters and dressed with a bandage.

Shoulder arthroscopy recovery

Most patients will need to stay in recovery for at least a few hours following their surgery. The majority of patients will be able to go home the same day as their surgery. Practice Plus Group patients will be assigned a physiotherapist to help them through their recovery. They should make every effort to attend their classes to help ensure a full recovery.

Meet our surgeons and consultants

At Practice Plus Group, you can choose an experienced consultant to support you throughout your time with us, ensuring you receive first-class care.

You can search for consultants on our website by treatment, language or name.

Why choose Practice Plus Group?

At Practice Plus Group Hospitals we’re passionate about giving patients a positive experience and excellent clinical outcomes, with personalised care every step of the way. Whether you’re paying for yourself or using private medical insurance, with our short waiting times, unrivalled Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings and high levels of cleanliness and infection control, we’ll make sure you’re looked after. In fact, we were the first provider to have all services rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC.

Shoulder operation arthroscopy FAQs

Not quite found what you’re looking for? Our dedicated shoulder replacement FAQs can help!

No. Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure so is not considered a major surgery.

Shoulder arthroscopy surgery usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour. It can take longer than this depending on the severity of the damage to the shoulder.

No. You will be under general or local anaesthetic during the operation and won’t feel any pain.

This depends on the severity of your shoulder damage and the recommendations of your doctor. Some patients will receive general anaesthetic while others will only need local.

It’s important to remember that everyone heals at different rates. This means some patient’s recovery process will be shorter than others. With that said, the expected recovery time from shoulder arthroscopy is up to three months.

This depends on the type of surgery you’ve received. Usually, it’s as soon as you’re safe to do so. There’s no obligation to inform the DVLA, however it’s important to speak with your doctor if you’re planning on getting back behind the wheel.

You should avoid lifting heavy objects following surgery. Your physiotherapist will prescribe a list of exercises to do. These will likely range from shoulder extensions to grip strengthening and are designed to help you make a full recovery. You should make every effort to attend physiotherapy sessions and do all the exercises.

This depends on the type of work you do. If you have a job that involves manual labour, you may not be able to return for some time. Desk-based roles could see you return within a few weeks. You should avoid any heavy lifting until the physio gives you the green light to do so.

This is easier said than done but you should avoid sleeping on your back where possible. You should try to sleep on a slight incline for the first few weeks to help take the pressure off the affected shoulder. Placing a pillow underneath your shoulder can also help to reduce the stress put on it overnight.

For up to four weeks following surgery. Your doctor will be able to offer guidance as to when you can stop wearing it.

You should avoid lifting heavy objects and driving for around eight weeks following surgery. Any high-impact sports like football or boxing should also be avoided.

The answer to this question depends entirely on your specific circumstances. If you lead an active lifestyle but the pain from your shoulder is stopping you from doing the things you want to do, then successful surgery will be worth your while.

Shoulder arthroscopy is used to perform rotator cuff repair which is a procedure to reattach torn tendons to the shoulder bone.

Ways to pay

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Portsmouth – every member of staff was amazing

I attended [Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth] Treatment Centre on Sunday with my 7 year old daughter as she had broken her ankle and just wanted to feedback on our experience. The centre was exceptionally busy but every member of staff we encountered was amazing: positive, calm and just absolute stars! The situation could have easily felt really out of control with how busy it was but we were given regular updates to waiting times and to thank us for our patience. We were seen by a lovely woman on triage, the most smiley technician at X-ray and a doctor who took time to explain what was happening to my daughter. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do.
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This is the best hospital I have ever been in. The care and efficiency were excellent. My operation was conducted by a top class surgeon and anaesthetist who made me feel relaxed and secure. The team in the Kingfisher ward were kind and professional with good bedside manners and sense of humour. There were no delays in the treatment. My stay was made as comfortable as possible and I thank everyone involved. I am now recovering well.

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Despite the most huge system demand, strikes and winter pressures the NHS still carries on, so grateful to Practice Plus Group for looking after me yesterday. You were incredibly slick, super friendly and got the job done!

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