Our emergency departments are currently extremely busy, and you may face a long wait to be seen. More information is available on alternative services.
This leaflet is for anyone who is thinking about having a nerve block for an operation on the shoulder, arm or hand. It will be of particular interest to people who might prefer not to have a general anaesthetic, or have been advised that their surgery should be performed under a block due to underlying…
Shoulder distension is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the shoulder joint under X-ray or ultrasound guidance. The joint is injected with local anaesthetic and corticosteroid. Filtered air or saline water is then injected into the joint with the aim of stretching and releasing the joint capsule.
This leaflet provides information on your surgery which will help you prepare for your operation and admission to hospital.
Subacromial Impingement is a common problem. This condition occurs when one of the tendons surrounding the shoulder, known as the rotator cuff, rubs on the under surface of the acromion (the bone at the point of the shoulder).
You have sustained a soft tissue injury (sprain) to your shoulder. You may experience some bruising in the upper arm. This normally takes 6 weeks to heal, but soft tissue injuries can persist for up to 3 months.
You have sustained a dislocation to your shoulder for the first time. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint which was disrupted during your dislocation. Please keep the sling provided on for the first three weeks to allow the soft tissues to settle, after this please follow the management plan outlined below.
You have sustained a fracture to your scapula (shoulder blade). This normally takes between 6-12 weeks to unite (heal).
You have sustained a fracture to your shoulder. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint and you have fractured just below the ball part. This normally takes between 6 to 12 weeks to unite (heal). Once the fracture begins to heal it is important to keep the shoulder moving to overcome the stiffness but…
You have sustained a fracture to your clavicle (collar bone). This normally takes between 6-12 weeks to heal. You may use the arm in the meantime as explained in the protocol and indeed it is important to keep the shoulder moving to prevent stiffness but not to aggravate it.
You have sustained an injury to your Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ). This is the joint between the top of the shoulder blade (acromion) and the far end of the collar bone (clavicle). This normally takes between 3-6 weeks to heal, but soft tissue injuries can persist for up to 3 months.
