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Orthopaedics · UK

Shoulder surgery - the right operation, by the right surgeon.

A private overview of every shoulder operation - arthroscopy, decompression, arthrolysis, stabilisation, cuff repair, replacement, resurfacing and fracture fixation.

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 surgery costs in the UK.

Ranges across the full shoulder menu, from a diagnostic arthroscopy to a reverse replacement.

In short

£3,000–£28,000, from a day-case arthroscopy to a reverse replacement.

Procedure Indicative range
Diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy £3,000–£4,800
Subacromial decompression £4,500–£7,500
Arthroscopic capsular release (arthrolysis) £6,000–£9,500
Rotator cuff repair (arthroscopic) £7,500–£12,500
Stabilisation - Bankart repair £7,000–£11,500
Latarjet stabilisation £10,000–£15,500
Shoulder resurfacing £12,000–£17,000
Anatomic total shoulder replacement £16,000–£22,000
Reverse shoulder replacement £18,000–£28,000
Proximal humerus fracture fixation £8,500–£16,000
Consultant shoulder opinion only £250–£350

Prices vary by hospital, surgeon, implant choice and whether physiotherapy is bundled. Replacements sit at the top of the range; a diagnostic arthroscopy at the bottom.

The problem

Right diagnosis, right sub-specialist, and the courage to say no operation is needed.

The shoulder is where general orthopaedics quietly under-delivers - the sub-specialist match is skipped, imaging is not read by a musculoskeletal radiologist, and physio is treated as an afterthought.

  • Match the surgeon to the shoulder

    Cuff, instability, arthroplasty and trauma are separate crafts. We do not send a stabilisation to a cuff specialist just to fill a list.

  • Consider the non-operative route first

    A physio block, one image-guided injection or a hydrodistension resolves a large fraction of shoulders.

  • Second opinion, on the record

The journey

From first appointment to full recovery - the whole path, in order.

One team from first message through diagnosis, decision, operation and the weeks of physiotherapy that follow.

  1. 01

    Before

    A short, confidential form. What hurts, what you cannot do, imaging so far, previous injections, sport and occupation.

  2. 02

    Before

  3. 03

    Before

    Consultation, imaging review, MDT if needed

    A proper history and examination, review of MRI, ultrasound or CT, and an upper-limb MDT for complex arthritis, revision or bone-loss cases.

  4. 04

    Before

    Non-operative options considered first

    Hydrodistension, image-guided injection, or a structured physiotherapy block - offered where it is the right first step, not skipped to fill a theatre slot.

  5. 05

    On the day

    The operation you actually need

    From a 30-minute arthroscopy under regional block to a 2-hour anatomic replacement. Same-day admission, interscalene block where appropriate, day-case or one to three nights.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Recovery and discharge

    Written aftercare, physio diaries booked, sling if required, escalation numbers to hand. Someone collects you.

  7. 07

    After

    Rehab, review and honest outcome tracking

    Physiotherapy tailored to the operation done. Consultant review at 6 and 12 weeks. Return to work, driving and sport dates agreed at each stage.

Typical end-to-end: 3–4 weeks from first appointment to surgery. Recovery timelines vary by operation.

When it helps

The shoulder problems that lead to surgery.

A symptom-to-diagnosis map - the presentations we see most, plus the one red flag that means A&E rather than a routine booking.

  • Impingement and painful arc

    Pain reaching overhead or behind the back, worse at night, often with a bursitis picture on ultrasound. Frequently physio-first, sometimes decompression.

  • Rotator cuff tear

    Weakness lifting or holding the arm out, night pain, positive impingement tests. Small tears may be managed non-operatively; larger and traumatic tears are usually repaired.

  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

    Global loss of both active and passive movement, often diabetic or post-injury. Hydrodistension or arthrolysis depending on stage.

  • Instability and recurrent dislocation

    A shoulder that keeps coming out, or feels like it will. Bankart or Latarjet depending on bone loss on CT.

  • Glenohumeral or AC-joint arthritis

    Deep aching pain, stiffness, night pain, grinding. Injection, resurfacing, anatomic or reverse replacement depending on cuff status and bone stock.

  • Proximal humerus or clavicle fracture

    A fall or high-energy injury with a displaced fracture on X-ray. Fixation, plating or replacement depending on pattern and bone quality.

  • Stiffness after previous surgery

    A shoulder that has not regained range after cuff repair, stabilisation or fixation - usually arthrolysis with a fresh physio block.

  • Red flag: hot, swollen, systemically unwell

    A hot, swollen, exquisitely painful shoulder with fever is not a soft-tissue problem - septic arthritis needs same-day A&E, not a routine booking.

Procedure options

The full menu of shoulder operations.

  • Shoulder arthroscopy

    Keyhole surgery to look inside the joint and treat what is found - bursitis, small cuff tears, loose bodies, labral fraying. The foundation for most modern shoulder work. See the dedicated page.

  • Subacromial decompression

    Shaving of bone and inflamed bursa above the cuff to relieve mechanical impingement. Reserved for structural impingement, not for every painful arc.

  • Capsular release (arthrolysis)

    360-degree arthroscopic division of the contracted capsule with MUA for stubborn frozen shoulder.

  • Hydrodistension

    Image-guided distension of the joint with saline and steroid - a lower-risk first step for frozen shoulder before theatre is considered.

  • Rotator cuff repair

    Arthroscopic or mini-open reattachment of the torn tendon to the greater tuberosity, often with anchors. Sling for 4–6 weeks, physio for 4–6 months.

  • Stabilisation - Bankart repair

    Arthroscopic re-attachment of the torn labrum and capsule after dislocation. For shoulders without significant bone loss on CT.

  • Latarjet stabilisation

    Coracoid bone-block transfer for recurrent dislocation with glenoid bone loss or a failed Bankart. Bigger operation, lower re-dislocation rate.

  • Shoulder resurfacing

    A metal cap over the humeral head - preserves bone stock in younger patients with focal arthritis and an intact cuff.

  • Anatomic total shoulder replacement

    Full humeral and glenoid replacement - for glenohumeral arthritis with an intact and functional rotator cuff.

  • Reverse shoulder replacement

    Ball and socket swapped - for cuff-tear arthropathy, massive irreparable cuff tears, or complex fractures where the cuff will not work.

  • Fracture fixation

    Plates, screws or nails for displaced proximal humerus or clavicle fractures. Replacement is reserved for unreconstructable head-splitting patterns.

  • Revision shoulder surgery

    Redo cuff repair, redo stabilisation, revision of a failed replacement - for a small number of complex cases with a dedicated revision surgeon.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Shoulder surgery is well-established across the board. What varies is the operation-specific recovery, and the risks worth knowing before you consent.

  • Not every shoulder needs surgery

    A well-run physiotherapy block and one image-guided injection settle a large fraction of shoulders that were pencilled in for theatre. We consider the non-operative route before the operative one.

  • Anaesthesia is usually a GA plus a block

    Most shoulder surgery is done under general anaesthetic with an interscalene block for 12–18 hours of post-op pain relief. Day-case is realistic for the smaller operations; replacements are 2–3 nights.

  • Bleeding, infection and nerve injury

    The common surgical risks. Deep infection under 0.5–1 percent for keyhole work, higher for replacements. Axillary nerve neurapraxia is rare and usually recovers.

  • Stiffness after any shoulder operation

    Every shoulder operation risks stiffness, especially cuff repair and post-fracture fixation. Physio, hydrodistension or later arthrolysis rescues most.

  • Re-tear, re-dislocation, loosening

    Cuff re-tear 10–25 percent depending on tear size, Bankart re-dislocation 10–20 percent, Latarjet 2–5 percent, replacement loosening at 15–20 years. These are the numbers to know.

  • Physio is half the operation

    A perfect operation with poor physio delivers a poor outcome.

  • Recovery timelines are different for every operation

    Arthroscopy: 1–2 weeks off desk work. Cuff repair: 6–12 weeks sling and 4–6 months to sport. Replacement: 6 weeks off driving and 3–4 months to full activity.

  • Return to sport is not the same as pain-free

    Contact sport after Latarjet, overhead sport after cuff repair, driving after replacement - each has its own dated milestone. We make these explicit up front.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Fever, spreading redness, calf pain, breathlessness, new hand weakness or numbness beyond 24 hours needs the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your operation note

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

Every shoulder operation note - from arthroscopy to reverse replacement - follows the same shape.

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

A quiet reminder

The Impression section is where the rehab protocol lives - read it first.

If you would like us to talk you through the operation note before your first physio session, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis, side and operation performed

    Which shoulder, the pre-op diagnosis, and the exact operation - arthroscopy, decompression, cuff repair, stabilisation, replacement or fracture fixation.

  2. 02 Technique

    Approach, portals and implants

    Keyhole portals or open approach, anchors and sutures used for cuff or labrum, implant brand and size for replacements, plate and screw pattern for fractures.

  3. 03 Findings

    What was actually seen inside

    Cuff status, labral pathology, cartilage grade, bone loss estimates, biceps, subscapularis - the intra-operative findings that shape prognosis and physio.

  4. 04 Impression

    Rehab protocol and follow-up

    Read this first: sling length, weight-bearing rules, physio milestones, return-to-work and driving dates, and follow-up appointments.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Most shoulder operations are covered where a clear diagnosis and failed conservative treatment are documented. Physiotherapy is often covered under the same episode.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about shoulder surgery.

Quick answers on which surgeon, private versus NHS, cost, imaging, second opinion and non-surgical alternatives.

  • What kind of shoulder surgeon do I actually need?

    The shoulder is sub-specialised. A cuff surgeon, an instability surgeon, an arthroplasty surgeon and a trauma surgeon each carry different skill sets. A rotator cuff tear belongs with a cuff surgeon, a recurrent dislocator with an instability surgeon, and an arthritic shoulder with an arthroplasty surgeon.

  • Private shoulder surgery versus the NHS - what is the actual difference?

    The operation itself is largely the same - most private surgeons hold NHS consultant posts. The differences are waiting time (a few weeks privately versus several months on the NHS for elective work), choice of surgeon, single-room recovery, and the physiotherapy package that follows. Emergency and fracture care is often best in an NHS trauma unit; elective work is where private care adds most value.

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

    Indicative ranges: a diagnostic arthroscopy £3,000–£4,800, subacromial decompression £4,500–£7,500, cuff repair £7,500–£12,500, Bankart stabilisation £7,000–£11,500, Latarjet £10,000–£15,500, resurfacing £12,000–£17,000, anatomic replacement £16,000–£22,000, reverse replacement £18,000–£28,000. Fracture fixation £8,500–£16,000. Physiotherapy is often quoted separately as a 6 to 12 week package.

  • Do I need imaging before I see a shoulder surgeon?

    A recent MRI, ultrasound or set of X-rays is very useful but not compulsory. We often send patients for the right imaging before the consultation, so the surgeon can decide at the first visit rather than sending you round the block. For arthritis we want X-rays and often a CT; for cuff and labral pathology we want MRI or MR arthrogram.

  • When is a second opinion worth paying for?

    A second opinion is worth its weight when the recommended operation is a replacement, a Latarjet, a redo procedure, or when the diagnosis feels uncertain. It is also worth it if a surgeon offers surgery at the first visit for a problem that has had no imaging or no physiotherapy trial.

  • What are the non-surgical options?

    A structured physiotherapy programme with a shoulder-specialist physiotherapist is the first line for most non-traumatic shoulder pain. Image-guided steroid or hydrodistension injections settle a large fraction of impingement and frozen shoulder cases. Pain-modifying medication, activity modification and, for some arthritis, hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma also have a role. Surgery is a step you take once the alternatives have been given a fair trial or the diagnosis makes surgery the clearly best route.

Related treatments

The deep-dive pages.