Shoulder Stabilisation Surgery in Sydney

What is arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation?

Arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation is keyhole surgery used to treat recurrent shoulder instability, usually after the shoulder has dislocated or repeatedly felt like it might slip out. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with a large range of movement, but that mobility also means it relies heavily on the labrum, capsule, ligaments and surrounding muscles for stability.

When the ball of the shoulder comes out of the socket, the labrum — the cartilage rim around the socket — can tear. This is often called a Bankart lesion when it occurs at the front of the socket. The capsule and ligaments may also stretch, leaving the shoulder more vulnerable to further dislocation or subluxation.

The goal of arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation is to repair the torn labrum and tighten the capsule so the shoulder is more stable. If there is a significant defect at the back of the humeral head, known as a Hill-Sachs lesion, a remplissage procedure may also be performed to improve stability.

Do you need shoulder stabilisation surgery?

Not every shoulder dislocation needs surgery. Some people do well with physiotherapy, activity modification and strength work, particularly after a first dislocation where the shoulder settles and the risk of recurrence is lower.

Surgery is more often considered when the shoulder keeps dislocating, repeatedly feels unstable, or the risk of recurrence is high because of your age, sport, work demands or imaging findings. Younger active patients, contact athletes, overhead athletes and people with structural damage to the labrum or bone may be more likely to need surgical stabilisation.

Your surgeon will assess your history, shoulder movement, apprehension, strength, imaging and goals. The decision is not based on one scan alone. It depends on whether the damaged structures match your instability pattern and whether repair is likely to help you return safely to work, training and daily activity.

Benefits and risks

What shoulder stabilisation can help achieve

• Reduced risk of further shoulder dislocation or subluxation
• Repair of the torn labrum back to the socket
• Tightening of the stretched shoulder capsule
• Improved confidence using the arm in daily life, work and sport
• Ability to address other pain generators if needed, such as the biceps tendon, AC joint or subacromial space
• A structured return-to-strength and return-to-sport pathway
• Less soft tissue disruption than many open stabilisation procedures

Risks to understand

• Common and temporary: pain, swelling, bruising, stiffness, sleep disruption and difficulty with hygiene or dressing in the early recovery period
• Uncommon: infection, bleeding, wound problems, blood clots, nerve or blood vessel injury
• Shoulder-specific: frozen shoulder or stiffness, ongoing pain, weakness, recurrent instability or failed healing
• Procedure-specific: repair failure, persistent apprehension, loss of some movement, or conversion from keyhole surgery to open surgery if required
• Anaesthetic risks: allergic reaction, heart complications, stroke and other medical complications related to your general health

Shoulder stabilisation is a quality-of-life operation. A labral tear or unstable shoulder is not usually life or limb threatening, so it is important to understand the recovery commitment and risks before deciding on surgery.

Bankart repair	Remplissage
Repairs the torn labrum back to the socket	Addresses a significant defect at the back of the humeral head
Helps restore the soft-tissue bumper of the shoulder	Helps stop the defect engaging with the socket edge
Usually used for anterior instability after dislocation	Added when bone shape increases instability risk
Often combined with capsular tightening	Uses posterior capsule and rotator cuff tissue
Aims to reduce recurrent dislocation	Aims to provide extra stability when soft-tissue repair alone may not be enough

How to prepare for shoulder stabilisation surgery

Arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation is rarely urgent, and results are generally better with proper preparation. At MTP Health, preparation usually focuses on shoulder strength, general health, medication planning, realistic expectations and organising your home, work and support after surgery.

It is vital that you work with your physiotherapist to maximise the condition of your rotator cuff, deltoid and peri-scapular muscles before surgery. Strong, well-controlled muscles around the shoulder blade and shoulder joint make it easier to start rehabilitation safely after the operation.

Our MTP Health Shoulder Program can help you prepare. It is also important to consider how the recovery period will affect family events, holidays, work trips, busy work periods, training cycles or competition dates.

There are certain exceptions where your surgeon may need to reduce the pre-operative preparation time, but this is not common and will be explained if it applies to you.

What happens before surgery?

Before surgery, we need to know about all medications you take, especially medicines for diabetes, blood pressure or blood thinning. Some medications may need to be stopped or adjusted up to one week before surgery, depending on your medical history and anaesthetic plan.

If you smoke, it is highly recommended that you stop for as long as possible before surgery. Smoking can affect wound healing and tissue healing, and reducing this risk is part of preparing properly.

Please keep the whole upper limb area, especially the shoulder, free from scratches, cuts, rashes or wounds in the weeks before surgery. Avoid last-minute gardening, heavy outdoor work or anything likely to scratch the skin. If you notice a mark or wound, please tell us early or send a photo. Surgery may need to be delayed if infection risk is increased.

Fasting before surgery

The hospital will contact you in the week of surgery and confirm your arrival time and fasting instructions the day before your operation.

Morning list: stop all food from midnight and stop clear fluids from 5:30am, or two hours before the planned start of the list, whichever comes first.

Afternoon list: stop all food from midnight and stop clear fluids from 11:00am, or two hours before the planned start of the list, whichever comes first.

Acceptable clear fluids include water, see-through apple juice with no bits, or a see-through energy drink such as Gatorade. Clear fluids do not include milk or cloudy juice with bits.

The procedure: what happens during shoulder stabilisation?

You will usually arrive at hospital one to two hours before surgery. A nurse will prepare the shoulder area, which may include shaving the skin and applying a coloured antiseptic solution.

You will then meet the anaesthetic team. Shoulder stabilisation is performed under general anaesthetic. If the anaesthetist considers it suitable and you agree, you may also have a regional nerve block to improve pain relief around the shoulder after surgery.

Before the anaesthetic, your surgeon will confirm the operation, joint and side with you. They will check this against your consent form and mark the correct shoulder. The surgical team also performs a formal time-out procedure to confirm your identity, imaging, consent and the marked side before surgery begins.

The procedure is performed under sterile conditions. You are positioned lying on your back before your head and back are raised into a semi-inclined position. Several small incisions are made around the shoulder so the surgeon can insert a camera and instruments.

The torn labrum is repaired, and the capsule is tightened using a capsular plication. If there is a significant defect at the back of the humeral head, a remplissage procedure may be performed by attaching the posterior capsule and posterior rotator cuff into the defect to provide more stability.

During the same surgery, other pain generators such as the acromioclavicular joint, subacromial space or long head of biceps tendon may also be addressed if they are found to be pathological.

The small wounds are closed with dissolvable sutures and adhesive dressings are applied. A sling with an abduction pillow is fitted before you leave theatre. The operation usually takes between 90 minutes and two hours, with additional time for anaesthetic preparation and recovery.

For waiting relatives or partners, it is usually between three and five hours from the time you leave the admissions area to when you return to the ward.

What should I expect immediately after surgery?

After the operation, you wake in the recovery room, where you are monitored for approximately one hour. During this time, your surgeon will usually call your relative or support person. It is important they understand this call may be more than four hours after you were taken to theatre because of waiting, anaesthetic and preparation time.

Once you are stable, you will be transferred to the ward to begin post-surgical recovery.

Dressings

The adhesive dressings are water-resistant but not fully waterproof. Please keep them dry, clean and intact until your first follow-up appointment at two weeks. It is normal to see some ooze on the dressings. If the dressings fall off, please reapply new ones. Avoid showering directly onto the wounds and do not submerge the wounds under water.

Cold therapy and Game Ready

If you have been supplied with a Game Ready machine, we advise using program 2 or 3 for up to two hours at a time. You can use it as often as needed during the day, as long as you still complete your rehabilitation exercises. If pain and swelling are well controlled, you do not need to use it.

When supplied by MTP Health, you will usually have the Game Ready machine for two weeks. At the end of this time it will be collected by courier unless you choose to continue the rental.

Length of stay

We call the day after surgery “Day 1 post surgery.” Your aim on this first day is to pass your discharge checks with the hospital physiotherapists and prepare to go home. Some people are safe to go home the day after surgery, while others may need an additional night in hospital.

Surgeon follow-up

Your first post-operative visit is usually with your surgeon at two weeks. This appointment is important for checking wound healing and answering any questions you may have.

Further follow-ups are usually arranged at six weeks, three months and six months after surgery.

Shoulder stabilisation recovery and rehabilitation

Your recovery starts as soon as you wake from the anaesthetic. Your fingers, hand and arm may feel numb or weak because of the local anaesthetic or regional block. Once movement returns, you should begin hand pumping and wrist movement exercises as instructed.

The early goal is to keep the repair protected while preventing stiffness in the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow. Shoulder rehabilitation is introduced gradually because the repaired labrum and tightened capsule need time to heal before they can tolerate lifting, loading or sport-specific stress.

Recovery timeline

Phase	Timeframe	What to expect
Protection	Weeks 0–6	Sling worn full time. No shoulder exercises. Focus on fingers, hand, wrist, forearm rotation and elbow range of motion only.
Early shoulder movement	Weeks 6–12	Sling is gradually weaned. Shoulder range-of-motion exercises begin. No lifting, loading or strengthening yet.
Strengthening begins	From 12 weeks	Gradual strengthening begins once healing is sufficient to tolerate increasing stress.
Functional rebuilding	Months 3–6	Progressive strengthening, control, endurance and return-to-work or return-to-training planning.
Return to sport	6+ months	Sport-specific progression depending on stability, strength, confidence, contact risk and surgeon guidance.

Timeframes are a guide. Your surgeon and rehabilitation team will progress you based on the direction of instability, repair type, remplissage use, pain, stiffness, strength and your goals.

Pain management

Controlling pain, swelling and inflammation is important in the early recovery period. Cold therapy can be useful. You may be advised to take simple analgesia such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen regularly for the first few days, with stronger pain medication used only as needed. Wean off stronger medications as soon as you can safely do so.

Resting and sleeping

Avoid lying or resting on your operated side for at least three months. Many people find it easier to sleep in a reclined position after surgery. If this is not comfortable, lying on your back may be a reasonable compromise.

Sling

Please wear your sling at all times for six weeks after surgery, including when resting or sleeping. The sling should only be removed for prescribed exercises and hygiene routines.

Hygiene care

Hygiene can be challenging in the early stage of recovery. The sling can be removed for washing, but avoid moving the shoulder too much. You can lean forward and towards the operated side to access the armpit and chest. A second sling dedicated for showering can help you complete hygiene routines while keeping the shoulder protected.

Rehabilitation at MTP Health

This is where MTP Health is different. Your rehabilitation is delivered by our physiotherapists and exercise physiologists, working alongside your surgeon. Your plan can begin before surgery and continue afterwards, with everyone working from the same goals and shared clinical record.

Your recovery may be supported by our pre-operative rehabilitation, post-operative rehabilitation, physiotherapy and exercise physiology services.

When can I return to driving, work and sport?

Return to driving, work and sport depends on your pain, movement, strength, medication use, repair type, sport or work demands and confidence. Your surgeon and rehabilitation team will guide your plan.

Driving

Do not return to driving until you can safely control your vehicle in an emergency and are no longer taking strong pain medication. Please discuss your driving plan with your surgeon and check with your car insurance provider.

Office-based work

Desk-based duties such as writing and typing may be possible once you are comfortable and no longer taking strong pain medication. For many people, this is around two weeks, although comfort, transport and sling use can affect timing.

Physical work and lifting

No lifting or loading is allowed for the first three months, not even small everyday loads. More physically demanding work takes longer and should be planned with your surgeon and rehabilitation team.

Sport and training

Gradual strengthening and loading can usually begin after three months. Return to sport depends on the sport, whether it involves contact, overhead positions or collision risk, and how your shoulder progresses. Return to sport is usually measured in months rather than weeks.

Shoulder stabilisation surgery cost in Sydney

The cost of shoulder stabilisation surgery depends on your private health cover, hospital insurance, surgeon fees, anaesthetist fees, assistant fees, hospital charges, imaging, rehabilitation needs and any excess on your policy.

As always with the health system, the answer is: it depends. At MTP Health, our mission is to simplify healthcare through a better understanding of the system upfront. You can discuss the options specific to you with the team when you see your specialist.

If you are using private health cover, our team will help you understand likely out-of-pocket costs before surgery. Your anaesthetist is an independent practitioner and may charge a separate gap, so we provide their details and recommend checking their quote before committing to surgery.

If surgery is performed through the public system, there may be no out-of-pocket surgical cost, but waiting times can vary depending on hospital access, urgency category and local availability.

Why have your shoulder stabilisation at MTP Health?

MTP Health brings together orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists and exercise physiologists in one clinic. That matters because shoulder stabilisation is not just an operation. It is a long recovery process that depends on preparation, repair protection, progressive rehabilitation and clear return-to-sport planning.

Honest advice comes first. If your shoulder is better suited to non-surgical care, we will tell you. If surgery is appropriate, we will help you understand what is being repaired, whether remplissage may be needed, how long recovery may take and what you need to do to protect the result.

Your surgeon

Frequently asked questions