Shoulder replacement surgery
Advanced shoulder replacement surgery designed to relieve severe, persistent shoulder joint pain, restore functional mobility, and help you return to an active, independent lifestyle.
Overview of Shoulder replacement surgery
While shoulder replacement surgery is less common than hip or knee joint replacements, it is a highly effective, evidence-based procedure for individuals suffering from end-stage shoulder arthritis or complex joint damage. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint comprising the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) and the socket of the shoulder blade (glenoid). When smooth articular cartilage wears away, the resulting bone-on-bone friction causes severe pain, stiffness, and loss of arm function. When conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, targeted exercise programs, and corticosteroid injections, fail to provide lasting relief, shoulder replacement surgery offers a definitive solution.
Why might I need shoulder replacement surgery?
Surgery is typically recommended if persistent shoulder pain and stiffness:
- Significantly interferes with daily tasks (such as dressing, reaching overhead, or lifting) or competitive sports
- Consistently disrupts your sleep due to continuous aching
- Results in severe weakness or marked loss of arm movement
- Has failed to improve after comprehensive non-surgical management
What happens during the operation?
- Anaesthesia: The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic, usually combined with a regional nerve block (an injection in the neck/shoulder region) to provide continuous pain relief after surgery.
- Surgical execution: Your consultant creates a precise incision down the front of the shoulder, carefully moves surrounding muscles, removes damaged bone and cartilage, and fixes the artificial components securely in place using medical bone cement or specialized press-fit techniques.
- Closure: The joint is evaluated for stability and motion before the incision is closed with specialized sutures or clips and covered with a sterile waterproof dressing.
- Duration and stay: The procedure takes between 1 to 2 hours. Most patients are ready to return home within 1 to 3 days following surgery.
What are the risks?
Shoulder replacement surgery is a safe, highly successful procedure. Potential risks, though rare, include:
- Infection: Deep joint infection is uncommon (less than 1 in 100 cases) and is managed with antibiotics or further surgery.
- Shoulder instability or dislocation: More relevant to reverse or hemiarthroplasty procedures; managed through post-operative precautions and physical therapy.
- Component loosening or wear: Modern artificial joint components are built to last 15 to 20 years or more, though revision surgery may eventually be needed.
- Nerve injury: Temporary or permanent stretch injury to sensory or motor nerves surrounding the shoulder joint.
- Stiffness or persistent pain: Incomplete range-of-motion recovery or persistent soft tissue pain.
Your consultant will review all potential risks with you during your pre-operative consultation.
Recovery and rehabilitation after shoulder replacement surgery
Protection and early motion
Your arm will be supported in a protective sling for 3 to 4 weeks to allow soft tissues and repaired tendons to heal. You will begin gentle, passive range-of-motion exercises (elbow, wrist, hand, and pendulum exercises) guided by your physiotherapist. You may need assistance at home with dressing, cooking, and household chores during this period.
Active movement and daily independence
The sling is gradually discontinued. Guided physical therapy transitions to active-assisted and unassisted movements. You will begin regaining the ability to reach forward and perform basic personal care, though overhead reaching (such as accessing high cupboards) will remain limited.
Strength building and functional return
Rehabilitation shifts to progressive strength training targeting the deltoid and scapular stabilising muscles. Pain levels continue to settle, and most patients can resume driving (once authorized by their specialist) and light work activities.
Advanced rehabilitation
Active range-of-motion and functional strength continue to improve. Return to low-impact sports (such as golf, swimming, or doubles tennis) is gradually introduced based on your consultant's guidance.
Working with professionals and teams
Our shoulder specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their shoulders. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Shoulder Treatment
How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
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