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Orthopaedics · UK

Shoulder stabilisation - the full menu, not one operation.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private shoulder stabilisation costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner shoulder units.

In short

£7,500–£14,000, home day-case or one to two nights.

Procedure Indicative range
Arthroscopic Bankart repair £7,500–£10,500
Arthroscopic Bankart with remplissage £8,500–£11,500
Open Bankart repair £8,000–£11,000
Latarjet (coracoid transfer) £10,500–£14,000
Posterior labral repair / posterior stabilisation £8,000–£11,500
Capsular shift for MDI £8,500–£12,000
Post-op physiotherapy package (12 sessions) £720–£1,320
Orthopaedic consultation £250–£350

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant and by the operation on the menu. Latarjet and revision cases sit at the top of the range; arthroscopic Bankart in the middle. Physio is priced separately because the number of sessions is set by the operation you have.

The problem

The right operation for your shoulder - not the one your surgeon happens to do.

Shoulder stabilisation is where surgeon preference quietly overrides evidence. Bone loss under-measured, ISIS not scored, remplissage skipped. We fix all three before you consent.

  • Score the ISIS before you book

    The Instability Severity Index is a 10-point score built from age, sport, hyperlaxity, Hill–Sachs and glenoid bone loss. It changes the operation. Every patient should know their score.

  • Measure the bone, not just the labrum

    A CT with 3D glenoid reconstruction is what decides between soft-tissue repair and a bone-block procedure. An MRI report alone is not enough.

  • Match the operation to the sport

    A rugby forward, a swimmer and a climber with generalised laxity need three different operations. We say which - up front, in writing.

When it helps

When shoulder stabilisation is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means A&E urgently rather than a routine appointment.

  • Recurrent anterior dislocation

    A shoulder that comes out during sport, in bed, or on a mild provocation after a first traumatic event - the classic Bankart lesion.

  • First-time dislocation in a young athlete

    Under-25 contact-sport athletes have a re-dislocation rate above 70 percent - an early Bankart or Latarjet is often preferable to waiting for the second event.

  • Failed previous stabilisation

    A shoulder that re-dislocated after an arthroscopic Bankart - usually a Latarjet or bone-block revision, not another soft-tissue repair.

  • Significant glenoid bone loss

    More than 15–20 percent glenoid bone loss on CT means a soft-tissue repair will fail - the menu switches to Latarjet or a distal-tibial allograft.

  • Engaging Hill–Sachs lesion

    A humeral head defect that catches on the glenoid rim in the position of apprehension - usually needs a remplissage added to the Bankart, or a Latarjet.

  • Posterior instability

    Painful subluxation on bench press, pushing or overhead loading - often a reverse Bankart lesion needing posterior labral repair rather than an anterior operation.

  • Multi-directional instability (MDI)

    A loose shoulder that subluxes in more than one direction, often on a background of generalised hyperlaxity - first line is a structured physio programme, then a capsular shift.

  • Red flag: dislocation with new arm weakness

    A dislocation with new deltoid weakness, numbness or a cold pulseless arm is an axillary nerve or vascular injury - same-day A&E, not a routine booking.

Procedure options

The full menu of stabilisation operations.

What each option on the menu involves - arthroscopic soft-tissue, open soft-tissue, bone-block and revision approaches. Detailed pages exist for Bankart and Latarjet; this page is the overview.

  • Arthroscopic Bankart repair

    The keyhole workhorse. Suture anchors reattach the torn anterior labrum to the glenoid rim. Suits ISIS 3 or below, minimal bone loss, non-collision sport. Deep-dive: see the dedicated Bankart page.

  • Open Bankart repair

    The historical gold standard - direct visualisation of the labrum through a deltopectoral approach. Still favoured by some surgeons in high-demand athletes and revision cases.

  • Latarjet (coracoid transfer)

    Transfers the coracoid process with its conjoint tendon to the anterior glenoid - bone block, sling effect and capsular repair in one operation. First choice above 15–20 percent bone loss or ISIS 4+. See the dedicated Latarjet page.

  • Bankart with remplissage

    A Bankart repair with an added infraspinatus tenodesis that fills an engaging Hill–Sachs defect. Cuts re-dislocation in shoulders with moderate humeral bone loss where a Latarjet would be overkill.

  • Posterior labral repair

    Arthroscopic reattachment of a torn posterior labrum, sometimes with posterior capsular plication. For weight-lifters, forwards and swimmers with painful posterior subluxation.

  • Capsular shift for MDI

    Open or arthroscopic tightening of a redundant capsule for multi-directional instability. Only offered after a proper physio trial in patients with generalised hyperlaxity.

  • Distal tibial allograft

    A donor-bone reconstruction of the glenoid rim for very large bony defects or failed Latarjet - restores the glenoid arc without disturbing the coracoid.

  • Revision stabilisation

    For a shoulder that has re-dislocated after prior surgery. Almost always a bone-block procedure - repeat soft-tissue repair has an unacceptable failure rate.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Every operation on the menu carries a different risk and recovery profile. The one shared truth: physiotherapy adherence in the first 12 weeks is the biggest single determinant of a durable result.

  • GA with interscalene block, in a proper theatre

    The block controls pain for 12–18 hours and lets physio start the same day. Day-case is realistic for arthroscopic Bankart; Latarjet and open cases are usually one to two nights.

  • Re-dislocation risk depends on the operation

    Arthroscopic Bankart in a low-ISIS shoulder: around 5–10 percent. Bankart in a high-ISIS contact athlete: 25–35 percent. Latarjet: 3–5 percent even in high-risk shoulders. The right operation is the one that matches your risk.

  • Bleeding, infection and thromboembolism

    Bleeding under 1 percent, deep infection under 1 percent for arthroscopic work and around 1–2 percent for open Latarjet. DVT and PE are uncommon in upper-limb surgery but not zero.

  • Nerve injury

    Musculocutaneous and axillary nerve neurapraxia is well described, especially in Latarjet - under 2 percent permanent injury in experienced hands. Numbness in the deltoid patch after arthroscopic work usually settles within weeks.

  • Stiffness and loss of external rotation

    Every stabilisation trades a little external rotation for stability. Latarjet loses more than arthroscopic Bankart on average; a small subset of patients are troubled by it.

  • Hardware complications after Latarjet

    Screw loosening, non-union of the coracoid graft and later hardware removal occur in around 3–7 percent. Not catastrophic - but part of the honest conversation before choosing bone over soft-tissue.

  • Return to contact sport is 4–6 months

    Rugby, judo, MMA and climbing return is typically 4 months after Latarjet and 5–6 months after arthroscopic Bankart, once strength, proprioception and imaging confirm graft or repair integrity.

  • Physio is the operation, again

    The result at 12 months is set by the first 12 weeks of physiotherapy. Skipping the graded return-to-sport programme is the most common preventable cause of a re-dislocation.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever, spreading redness, new hand weakness or numbness that fails to settle after 24 hours, sudden severe shoulder pain, or an arm that dislocates again all need the same-day team or A&E - not a routine call.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever operation on the menu you have - Bankart, Latarjet, remplissage, posterior or capsular shift - the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant shoulder surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note and the physio protocol before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis, side, ISIS score

    Which shoulder, the direction of instability (anterior, posterior, multi-directional), the ISIS score and the operation performed on the menu.

  2. 02 Technique

    Approach and anchors used

    Arthroscopic or open, portals or incision, the number and position of suture anchors, and - for Latarjet - screw type, coracoid orientation and congruent fit to the glenoid.

  3. 03 Findings

    Labral, capsular and bony findings

    Bankart tear extent, capsular redundancy, engaging Hill–Sachs lesion, glenoid bone loss quantified against the CT, and any concurrent cuff or biceps pathology.

  4. 04 Impression

    Sling, physio, return-to-sport plan

    Read this first: the sling protocol, week-by-week physio milestones and the earliest date for contact-sport return.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Shoulder stabilisation surgery is usually covered when there is documented recurrent instability. Physiotherapy sessions are often covered under the same authorisation.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about shoulder stabilisation.

Quick answers on choosing the right operation, re-dislocation rates, contact sport return, MDI treatment, cost and NHS options.

  • Which stabilisation operation is right for my shoulder?

    It depends on your ISIS score, glenoid bone loss on CT, whether a Hill–Sachs lesion is engaging, your sport and any previous surgery. In broad terms: ISIS 3 or below with minimal bone loss and non-contact sport suits an arthroscopic Bankart; ISIS 4 or above, more than 15–20 percent glenoid bone loss, or a failed prior repair usually points to a Latarjet. Posterior instability and MDI have their own pathways. We work through it with you before you consent.

  • What are the re-dislocation rates across the menu?

    Arthroscopic Bankart in a low-risk shoulder: around 5–10 percent at 5 years. Bankart in a high-ISIS contact athlete: 25–35 percent. Adding a remplissage for moderate humeral bone loss brings that back down. Latarjet is around 3–5 percent even in high-risk shoulders. Capsular shift for MDI has more variable outcomes and depends heavily on physiotherapy adherence.

  • When can I go back to contact sport?

    Rugby, judo, MMA and climbing return is typically 4 months after a Latarjet and 5–6 months after an arthroscopic Bankart or remplissage, provided strength, proprioception and imaging confirm graft or repair integrity. Non-contact and overhead sport comes back sooner. We give a firm date at the 12-week review, not before.

  • What is done for multi-directional instability?

    MDI is treated first with a structured 3–6 month physiotherapy programme focused on scapular control and rotator cuff endurance - the Rockwood or Watson protocols. Only patients who fail that trial move on to an open or arthroscopic capsular shift. It is a very different operation from a Bankart and needs a surgeon comfortable with both approaches.

  • How much does private shoulder stabilisation cost in the UK?

    Roughly £7,500–£10,500 for an arthroscopic Bankart, £8,500–£11,500 with remplissage, £10,500–£14,000 for a Latarjet, £8,000–£11,500 for a posterior stabilisation, and £8,500–£12,000 for a capsular shift for MDI. Physiotherapy is an additional £720–£1,320 for a 12-session package.

  • Is stabilisation surgery available on the NHS?

    Yes, and for most patients it is the right route. NHS shoulder units offer the full menu of stabilisation options, though waits for elective arthroscopic work run 6–18 months depending on trust. Private care makes sense if you cannot wait for the natural history of recurrent dislocations, if your season or job is on the line, or if you want a specific surgeon known for a particular procedure.

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