Orthopaedics

Shoulder pain is common among people with a spinal cord injury. As wheelchair users rely on their arms to perform activities of daily living independently, the shoulder joint is subject to very heavy, and in some cases unphysiological, strain. A look at the everyday life of a wheelchair user suggests that the shoulder muscles become fatigued due to the excess strain, primarily during transfers and when propelling the wheelchair forwards, which means that the dynamic centring of the humeral head during movement is no longer guaranteed. This results in rapidly advancing joint damage.

By the time a consultation takes place, the pain is unfortunately often already permanent and can no longer be managed with non-surgical forms of therapy, or a considerable loss of function has already occurred. In most cases this means deterioration in the ability to perform a physical transfer, which is the process that determines independence in a person with a spinal cord injury.

Many years of experience

The Orthopaedics department at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC) Nottwil has been offering standalone consultations for shoulders since 2005. The full range of non-surgical and surgical measures can be performed. Surgical procedures include arthroscopic (“keyhole technique”) reconstruction of ligaments and tendons, treatment of broken bones, implantation of endoprostheses, and the treatment of other injuries and diseases of the upper and lower extremities. Consultations, non-surgical therapy, and surgical therapy in the SPC are also available to patients without paralysis, who can benefit from the department’s particular experience in treating “challenging” shoulder joints and other joints.

Available treatments:

• Rotator cuff
• Impingement syndrome
• Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
• Shoulder instability
• Pathologies of the long biceps tendon (SLAP-Lesion)
• Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint

Elbow

In recent years, elbow arthroscopy has seen a particularly high level of further development due to technical advances. This has resulted in improved treatment options and a broader area of application. Elbow arthroscopy is now able to represent all sections of the joint, which years ago only used to be possible by making multiple skin incisions. Constriction caused by floating cartilage and stress-induced pain due to osteoarthritis make arthroscopic treatment of the elbow necessary in most cases. Further treatment options exist for cartilage and bone defects (including the assessment of fractures), in particular of the radial head, but also in the other joint sections of the elbow joint. Detachment of adhesions that cause severe restrictions to movement and removal of an inflamed synovial membrane (synovialitis), in particular in the case of a rheumatic disease, are often a good indication for elbow joint arthroscopy.

Hand

Hand and tetra hand surgery at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil. Please click on the link below.