Shoulder Arthritis Specialist Singapore

Dr. Bryan Tan

MBBS (Singapore)

MMed (Ortho)

FRCS Ed (Orth)

Shoulder arthritis is damage to the shoulder joint’s cartilage, resulting in the joint surfaces becoming rough and uneven. It is vital to understand your symptoms and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, as early diagnosis and management can reduce the complications of shoulder arthritis.

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Dr. Bryan Tan

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Sports have always played a big part in Dr Bryan’s life. His interest in sports and varied sporting activities give him a deep understanding of sports injuries and the mindset of an athlete.

The condition often develops gradually over time and is difficult to detect. This painful condition affects 2-5% of the general population.

Dr Bryan Tan is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon, based in Singapore. He completed 2 fellowships in Orthopaedic Sports, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery in Sydney, Australia and Nice, France. Prior to private practice, Dr Bryan was a consultant in the Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery in National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore. He is currently still a visiting consultant at NUH where he actively teaches medical students and young orthopaedic surgical trainees. In addition, he travels to regional countries to teach advanced arthroscopic surgical techniques.

MBBS(Singapore)
MMed (Ortho)
FRCS Ed(Orth)

Dr. Bryan has a special interest in keyhole surgery and performs most of his surgeries using advanced, modern keyhole surgical techniques. He regularly visits fellow surgeons from other countries to ensure his skills and knowledge are cutting edge.

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What Is Shoulder Arthritis?

Shoulder arthritis is damage to the shoulder joint’s cartilage, resulting in the joint surfaces becoming rough and uneven.

Shoulder arthritis may affect the glenohumeral joint, which is the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder, but more often affects the smaller acromioclavicular joint which sits above the glenohumeral joint.

What Are the Symptoms Of Shoulder Arthritis?

Common symptoms of shoulder arthritis include:

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How Is Shoulder Arthritis Diagnosed?

Your doctor will likely perform a physical examination of your shoulder to check for shoulder mobility and strength.

In addition, the following imaging tests may also be conducted:

X-rays
CT scans (provide a more detailed image of the shoulder joints)
MRI (reveal surrounding soft tissues around the shoulder joints)

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How Is Shoulder Arthritis Treated?

Non-Surgical Treatment

Common treatment methods include:

Rest
Warm compression to minimise pain
Taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen , naproxen or etoricoxib to reduce pain
Corticosteroids injections
Simple and gentle stretching exercises to slowly regain shoulder mobility and strength

Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be recommended if your arthritis symptoms worsen or if non-surgical treatment options are ineffective.

Common surgical options include:

Arthroscopic shoulder debridement. In this surgery, your doctor will remove loose fragments of damaged shoulder joint cartilage by making small incisions in your shoulder.
Total shoulder replacement surgery. In this surgery, plastic and metal are used to replace the diseased sections of bones in your shoulder joint.
Reverse total shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure reverses the location of the ball and socket of the shoulder joints. This is fast becoming the procedure of choice, especially if the rotator cuff is damaged.
Resection arthroplasty. This is the most common surgery for arthritis in the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. For this surgical procedure, your doctor will remove a small amount of bone from the end of your collarbone to prevent the clavicle and the acromion from rubbing against each other during shoulder movements.

What Causes Shoulder Arthritis?

The common causes of shoulder arthritis are:

What’s the first step?

Your Treatment Roadmap with Dr. Bryan

step 1

Book An Appointment
With Dr. Bryan

Our friendly clinic staff will assist you with your registration, ensuring an efficient and hassle-free process for you. Fill up this form to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bryan.

step 2

Initial Consultation & Diagnosis of your Condition

During your consultation, Dr. Bryan will evaluate your medical history and the pain you are experiencing. You may also ask Dr. Bryan any questions you may have about your condition.

step 3

Treatment & Follow Up Visits With Dr. Bryan

After your consultation with Dr. Bryan, our friendly clinic staff will assist you with your follow-up appointment, and provide you with instructions/information for any prescribed treatment plans from Dr. Bryan.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Is shoulder arthritis serious? When should I visit a doctor?

While shoulder arthritis is not life-threatening, it can bring significant discomfort and pain.

You should seek proper medical treatment if your symptoms persist for an extended period of time or if they interfere with your daily activities.

How to prevent shoulder arthritis?

Unfortunately, in many instances, it may not be possible to prevent shoulder arthritis
Seek early treatment for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or other forms of inflammatory arthritis that may eventually damage the shoulder joint

Take the First Step