Shoulder and elbow surgery

Our upper extremity team provides first-class assessment and treatment of all shoulder and elbow problems and is particularly concerned with the needs of amateur and professional sportspeople.

Our internationally-recognized team of specialists makes diagnoses and assesses the need for surgery based on your medical history and a range of established clinical tests, performing additional tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and electrophysiological tests where necessary.

Areas of expertise

Thanks to its size and particular interest in the upper extremity, Balgrist University Hospital highly specialized in:

arthroscopic and open elbow surgery
arthroscopic surgery
placement of artificial replacement joints (total and partial prosthesis of the elbow)
complex elbow reconstruction where joints have been destroyed or where there are tumors
(if necessary, we perform such operations in cooperation with the clinic’s own hand surgeons or other specialists)

All tests can be carried out at Balgrist University Hospital. This means that you can benefit from the latest examination and treatment techniques, which Balgrist University Hospital constantly updates on the basis of its own fundamental research and clinical studies.

Treatment and procedures

We, as a treatment center, are frequently asked to deal with conditions that cannot be treated by usual means or to correct the results of previous operations. This often entails complex tendon transfer operations and use of reverse shoulder prostheses.

We focus on:

rehabilitation after tendon tears in the rotator cuff
stabilization operations after shoulder dislocation
placing artificial replacement joints where joints have been destroyed by osteoarthritis or rheumatic diseases treating
fractures in the shoulder area

Appointments

We are happy to arrange appointments for Wednesday and Friday.

You can reach us as follows:
Monday to Friday
8 am to 12 noon
1 pm to 5 pm

+41 44 386 30 12
+41 44 386 30 09
Email

Animated shoulder videos

A rotator cuff tear is a tear or rupture of the tendons transmitting the strength of the muscles that connect the shoulder blade to the head of the humerus. The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint and allows you to lift and rotate your arm. A tear in these tendons impairs shoulder function and often causes pain that needs to be treated.

Reverse total shoulder replacement is a common and effective method of treatment for patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint and a simultaneous irreparable tendon tear. The modular components of the artificial joints used today allow the shoulder joint to be reconstructed with improved mobility and reliable pain relief.

A dislocated (luxated) shoulder means that the head of the humerus has popped out of its socket. This displacement can damage the joint capsule and bone, as well as lead to permanent instability of the shoulder joint. A Latarjet procedure may be considered if conservative treatment fails to achieve adequate stability and, at the same time, the bony rim of the socket is damaged.