Our shoulder and elbow joints are composed of bones that are covered with articular cartilage to protect the bones and enable them to move easily.

Fractures, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cartilage damage, tendon tears and instability are responsible for most shoulder and elbow problems. Shoulder and elbow surgery aims to restore the full use of your shoulder or elbow without pain.

The hand and wrist are made up of many different bones, there are 27 bones alone in the hand and a further 13 in the wrist, including 8 carpal bones therefore the opportunity for you to feel pain where some of these joints are located is high.

Treatment for shoulder, elbow and wrist pain

At Bridges Clinic we have a highly experienced and professional team of Orthopaedic Surgeons that can diagnose, treat and manage all types of shoulder, elbow and wrist problems.

Shoulder and elbow arthroscopy

Shoulder or elbow arthroscopy is minimally invasive surgery used to diagnose and often treat a shoulder or elbow problem.  Read more about elbow arthroscopy here.

Arthroscopy is performed under general anaesthetic and your orthopaedic surgeon will insert a thin metal tube with a camera and light, called an arthroscope, into your shoulder or elbow joint through small incisions.

Shoulder and elbow arthroscopy is often used to remove loose pieces of bone and cartilage.

Shoulder arthroscopy can be used to:

• Repair rotator cuff
• Remove bone spurs or inflamed tissue
• Remove or repair the labrum
• Repair ligaments
• Repair recurrent shoulder dislocation

Elbow arthroscopy can be used to treat:

• Tennis elbow
• Osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory arthritis)
• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Scar tissue to offer a greater range of motion

Wrist arthroscopy can be used to treat:

• Carpal tunnel release
• Dupuytren’s disease
• Trigger finger