Surgery

Shoulder and elbow surgery expert witnesses

Listed shoulder and elbow surgery expert witnesses address rotator cuff disease, instability, fracture and joint replacement in the upper limb. Distinguishing traumatic tears from degenerative change is the recurring question.

Clinician assessing shoulder movement with a patient, the examination shoulder and elbow surgery expert witnesses undertake

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The evidence

What a shoulder and elbow surgery expert witness is asked to determine

Shoulder claims frequently ask whether a cuff tear was caused by the accident or was already present. The mechanism described, the immediate symptoms recorded and the appearance of the tendon on imaging together determine what can properly be attributed to the index event.

  • Whether the mechanism described is capable of causing the tear or dislocation alleged.
  • Whether imaging appearances indicate an acute injury or pre-existing degeneration.
  • Whether the timing of surgery met the standard appropriate to the injury.
  • Whether repair, decompression or arthroplasty was competently performed.
  • What range of movement, strength and capacity for work the evidence supports.

Practitioners are listed across all four UK nations. Location can be narrowed in the register’s location listings before an instruction is made.

Claim contexts

Claims that instruct this discipline

These links describe the question shoulder and elbow surgery evidence can answer. They do not prescribe the scope of an individual instruction.

Search the register by the discipline used in the instruction.

See shoulder and elbow surgery listings

Report routes

Reports prepared

Imaging and clinic records support a records review report addressing acuity of the tear. A breach and causation report deals with any treatment criticised.

A condition and prognosis report addresses movement, strength and employment, after an independent medical examination.

Shoulder and elbow surgery expert witness evidence

A shoulder and elbow expert witness addresses acuity before technique, because attribution usually decides the claim.

The register publishes the listing; scope and conflicts are addressed with the practitioner. See the British Elbow and Shoulder Society alongside the case material.

2,412 practitioners138 disciplinesFour UK nations

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Shoulder & Elbow listings