Education · shoulder
Shoulder
Last reviewed
Shoulder conditions covered here range from acute tendon injuries (rotator cuff tears, biceps ruptures, SLAP lesions) through degenerative arthritis (glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy) to mechanical and instability problems (frozen shoulder, AC joint disorders, recurrent dislocation). Most operations are arthroscopic — rotator cuff repair, labral stabilisation, capsular release for frozen shoulder, subacromial decompression — with open or arthroscopic Latarjet for instability with bone loss, and shoulder replacement (total or reverse) for end-stage arthritis. Dr Hirpara completed two dedicated shoulder fellowships in Brisbane after the hand-surgery fellowship in Manchester: the Cutbush shoulder fellowship at Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Clinic, then a sports-shoulder fellowship at St Andrew's War Memorial and The Prince Charles hospitals. He has co-authored research on arthroscopic shoulder reconstruction and continues shoulder outcomes work from the practice. The 29 topics below cover shoulder anatomy, each condition's natural history, the operations available, and what recovery involves.
Conditions
AC Joint OsteoarthritisAC joint osteoarthritis causes localized shoulder pain with cross-body movements; treatment ranges from activity modification to surgery.
Calcific TendinitisCalcific tendinitis causes shoulder pain from calcium deposits; treatment ranges from observation to washing out the calcium.
Clavicle FractureClavicle fractures — when conservative management is fine and when fixation is indicated.
Cuff ArthropathyRotator cuff arthropathy: shoulder arthritis following a long-standing, massive rotator cuff tear and its impact on function.
Distal Clavicle OsteolysisYou likely feel pain right at the top of your shoulder where it meets your collarbone. This area is the acromioclavicular joint. The pain often feels sharp or aching. It may flare up after you lift heavy objects or do repetitive overhead work. You might notice the pain gets…
EnFix Biological ScaffoldYou likely have pain in the top of your shoulder that feels deep and aching. This discomfort often gets worse when you lift your arm or reach behind your back to fasten a bra. Simple tasks like tucking in a shirt or washing your hair can become difficult and painful.
Frozen ShoulderFrozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) causes pain and stiffness, progressing through freezing, frozen, and thawing phases.
Os AcromialePatient-facing topic on os acromiale — failed fusion of an acromial ossification centre that may cause shoulder pain and contribute to subacromial impingement.
Proximal Humerus FractureProximal humerus fractures — Neer classification, sling management, and surgical options.
Rotator Cuff DisordersRotator cuff disorders: common causes of shoulder pain, ranging from mild ache to debilitating injury.
Shoulder ArthritisShoulder arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion — diagnosis and treatment options explored.
Shoulder Arthroplasty for Acute Proximal Humerus FractureYou likely have deep pain in the top of your shoulder where the bone broke. This pain often feels worse when you try to move your arm or lift anything heavy. You might notice the pain flares up at night, making it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Many patients find they…
Shoulder ArthroscopyWhat shoulder arthroscopy is, what it's used for, and how to prepare and recover.
Shoulder InstabilityShoulder instability — understanding the feeling of looseness, causes, and treatment options.
SLAP and Biceps PathologySuperior labral (SLAP) tears and disorders of the long head of biceps — assessment and treatment.
Subacromial Impingement and BursitisSubacromial impingement — causes of shoulder pain with overhead activity, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Suprascapular neuropathyYou might feel pain or weakness in your shoulder. In young, active people, these are often the two main things you notice first. The pain usually sits deep in the back of your shoulder or near the top of your shoulder blade. You may feel it when you lift your arm or reach…
Operations
AC Joint StabilisationSurgical reconstruction for high-grade AC joint dislocation (Rockwood III-VI).
Anterior Shoulder StabilisationArthroscopic Bankart repair for anterior shoulder instability — distinct from open Latarjet.- Biceps TenodesisBiceps tenodesis and tenotomy — when, where (suprapectoral vs subpectoral) and what to expect afterwards.
Capsular Release for Frozen ShoulderArthroscopic capsular release frees a stiff shoulder (frozen shoulder) when physiotherapy and injections fail.
Clavicle Fracture FixationClavicle fixation (ORIF) — restoring alignment and stability for displaced clavicle fractures.
Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM)The Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM) procedure — a joint-preserving arthroscopic alternative to arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis, combining debridement, capsular release, osteophyte excision, microfracture, loose-body removal and axillary nerve neurolysis.- Distal Clavicle Excision (Mumford Procedure)Your surgeon has suggested a distal clavicle excision, also known as a Mumford procedure. This operation removes the outer end of the collarbone to stop it from rubbing against the shoulder blade. You likely need this because you have persistent pain or wear-and-tear arthritis…
Latarjet ProcedureLatarjet procedure — bone block transfer for recurrent shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss.
Proximal Humerus Fracture ORIF (Plate and Nail Fixation)Open reduction and internal fixation is a surgery to realign broken bones and hold them in place with plates and screws. Your surgeon may have suggested this for you because non-operative options, such as rest and immobilization, have not provided enough improvement. While many…
Reverse Shoulder ArthroplastyReverse shoulder replacement for severe rotator cuff tears and arthritis—when a traditional replacement isn’t ideal.
Revision rotator cuff repairThis surgery, called revision rotator cuff repair, is a second attempt to fix a torn shoulder tendon after a previous repair did not work. Your surgeon likely suggested this because you still have pain and limited movement even after trying non-surgical treatments like rest…
Revision Shoulder ReplacementRevision shoulder replacement — addressing failure of prior shoulder replacements with a reverse design.- Rotator Cuff RepairRotator cuff repair reattaches torn tendons to bone, improving pain and function when conservative treatment fails.
Subacromial DecompressionArthroscopic subacromial decompression for impingement and bursitis — operation and recovery.
Suprascapular nerve decompressionThis operation, called arthroscopic suprascapular nerve decompression, is a keyhole surgery to free a nerve in your shoulder that has become pinched. Your surgeon likely suggested it because you have isolated nerve compression causing pain or weakness that has not improved with…
Total Shoulder ArthroplastyTotal shoulder replacement for severe arthritis — stemless options if rotator cuff is intact.
