Shoulder Surgery in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is shoulder surgery?
Shoulder surgery is a group of operations on the shoulder joint and the tendons around it. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and it relies on a ring of four tendons, the rotator cuff, and on the soft rim of the socket to stay centred while the arm moves. Most shoulder operations repair one of these structures. Many are done by keyhole surgery through small incisions, while others, such as shoulder replacement, need an open incision.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, shoulder surgery is carried out by the orthopedic surgical team, and each operation is planned around the specific structure that is causing your symptoms. How keyhole surgery works is explained on the arthroscopy page.
Who needs it
Shoulder surgery is considered for problems that have a clear structural cause and have held back daily life despite exercise-based treatment. The main reasons are:
- A torn rotator cuff tendon, often after a fall or a lifting injury, causing weakness when raising the arm and pain at night. A sudden tear in an active person is usually repaired early, while tears that develop with age often do well with exercise first.
- A shoulder that keeps dislocating, typically in younger people after a first dislocation during sport. Stabilisation surgery tightens or repairs the rim of the socket so the ball stays in place.
- Severe arthritis of the shoulder, where the joint surfaces have worn away. Shoulder replacement resurfaces the ball and socket.
- Frozen shoulder that has failed to improve, in which the joint lining becomes thick and tight. Frozen shoulder is more common in people with diabetes and usually recovers with time, exercise and injections, so surgery is kept for the minority whose stiffness persists.
Your surgeon matches the examination and imaging to your symptoms, because scans in adults often show tendon changes that cause no pain. The wider assessment of shoulder pain is on the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine page.
What happens
Most shoulder surgery is done under general anaesthetic combined with a nerve block in the neck, which keeps the arm numb and comfortable for some hours afterwards. The anaesthetist explains this beforehand.
For a rotator cuff repair, the surgeon reattaches the torn tendon to the bone using small anchors with strong sutures. For stabilisation, the torn rim of the socket is reattached in the same way, tightening the joint capsule. For frozen shoulder, the tight lining can be released through keyhole surgery. For replacement, the worn ball and socket are replaced through an incision at the front of the shoulder with metal and plastic components.
After the operation your arm rests in a sling. You go home the same day or after one or two nights, depending on the operation, with instructions on how much you may move the arm.
Preparing for it
A pre-operative assessment checks your fitness for anaesthetic and reviews your medicines, particularly blood thinners and diabetes treatment. Good blood sugar control before surgery lowers the risk of infection.
Prepare for a period of doing everything with one arm. Button-front or loose tops are easier to put on, slip-on shoes save bending, and everyday items placed at waist height on your good side help. Many people sleep more comfortably propped semi-upright on pillows or in a reclining chair for the first weeks, so set this up in advance. Arrange a lift home and help with shopping and cooking at first.
Afterwards
The sling protects the repair while the tendon or rim heals onto the bone, and the length of time in the sling depends on the operation. Rehabilitation follows a careful sequence: gentle movement first, then active movement, and strengthening later once the repair is secure. Physiotherapy is arranged as part of your care pathway, and following the stages closely protects the repair. Shoulder recovery is gradual, and your surgeon gives you a timeline for your case covering the sling, driving, work and sport.
Contact the hospital if a wound becomes red, hot or starts to leak, if you develop a fever, or if pain suddenly becomes much worse. Seek urgent care straight away if the hand becomes cold, pale or blue, or if numbness or weakness in the hand persists after the nerve block should have worn off.
Cost and insurance
Shoulder surgery usually needs pre-approval from your insurer, supported by the examination and scan findings. Approval normally covers the operation, anaesthetic and anchors or implants, although shoulder replacement implants may be assessed separately. Physiotherapy afterwards is often approved with a session limit, which matters for shoulder rehabilitation. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Do all rotator cuff tears need surgery?
Not all rotator cuff tears need surgery. Tears that develop gradually with age often improve with a structured exercise programme, while sudden tears in active people, or tears that cause marked weakness, are more often repaired. Your surgeon considers your age, activity, the size of the tear and your symptoms.
What are the risks of shoulder surgery?
Shoulder surgery carries risks including infection, stiffness, bleeding, nerve injury and a reaction to the anaesthetic. A repaired tendon can tear again, a stabilised shoulder can dislocate again, and replacement parts can wear over time. Your surgeon explains how these risks apply to your operation.
Why is recovery from shoulder surgery slow?
Recovery from shoulder surgery is slow because a repaired tendon or rim must heal back onto bone before it can take load, and this biological healing cannot be rushed. Moving the arm too strongly too soon is the main cause of a repair failing, which is why rehabilitation follows set stages.
Will I need to sleep sitting up after shoulder surgery?
Many people find it more comfortable to sleep propped semi-upright on pillows or in a reclining chair for the first weeks after shoulder surgery, because lying flat pulls on the shoulder. Your team advises on positions and on when you can return to lying flat.
Does frozen shoulder need an operation?
Frozen shoulder usually improves without an operation, although recovery can be slow, and exercise, pain relief and injections help in the meantime. Frozen shoulder is more common in people with diabetes. Surgery to release the tight lining is considered only when stiffness persists despite this treatment.
When can I drive after shoulder surgery?
You can drive after shoulder surgery once you are out of the sling, can control the steering wheel with both hands in an emergency, and are no longer taking sedating painkillers. Your surgeon confirms the timing for your operation, and your motor insurer should be informed.
Is shoulder surgery covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover shoulder surgery that is medically needed, with pre-approval based on examination and scan findings, while physiotherapy may be limited to a set number of sessions. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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