Conditions treated
Shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist conditions
Mr Alistair Jepson is a consultant upper limb surgeon seeing patients privately in Northampton and Kettering. Each guide below explains the symptoms, how the problem is diagnosed and the treatment options in plain language.
Shoulder
Pain, weakness, stiffness or a shoulder that feels unstable can have several causes, and each guide sets out how they are told apart and treated.
Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
Calcium deposits in the rotator cuff, why they can cause sudden severe pain, and treatment including barbotage and arthroscopic excision.
Read the guideFrozen shoulder
The stages of a stiff, painful shoulder, who tends to get it, and treatment from injections and hydrodistension to arthroscopic capsular release.
Read the guideHydrodistension for frozen shoulder
Treatment guide: the image-guided stretching injection for a frozen shoulder, what to expect and recovery.
Read the guidePectoralis major tendon tears
A chest and shoulder tendon injury, usually from weight training or contact sport, how it is confirmed on MRI and why early repair matters.
Read the guideRotator cuff tears
Types of tear, why not every tear needs surgery, how tears are diagnosed and when arthroscopic repair is recommended.
Read the guideShoulder arthritis and shoulder replacement
Osteoarthritis and cuff tear arthropathy, non-surgical care, and how anatomical and reverse shoulder replacements differ.
Read the guideShoulder instability and SLAP tears
Dislocations, labral and SLAP tears, rehabilitation, arthroscopic stabilisation and the Latarjet procedure when there is bone loss.
Read the guideElbow
From tendon pain and swelling to stiffness and trapped nerves, these guides cover the elbow problems Mr Jepson sees most often.
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow causing tingling in the ring and little fingers, and when cubital tunnel release helps.
Read the guideDistal biceps tendon rupture
A sudden tear of the biceps tendon at the front of the elbow, with bruising and weakness turning the forearm.
Read the guideElbow arthritis and elbow arthroscopy
Pain and stiffness from elbow arthritis, and how elbow arthroscopy or open surgery can improve comfort and movement.
Read the guideOlecranon bursitis
Swelling at the point of the elbow, signs of infection to look out for, and treatment from aspiration to bursectomy.
Read the guideTennis elbow and golfer's elbow
Tendon pain on the outer side (tennis elbow) or inner side (golfer's elbow) of the elbow, and the non-surgical and surgical treatments that can help.
Read the guideHand and wrist
Numbness, lumps, joint pain or fingers that will not straighten each have their own guide, with the options from simple measures to surgery.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Numbness and tingling in the hand from median nerve compression, non-surgical options and carpal tunnel release surgery.
Read the guideDupuytren's contracture
Thickening in the palm that slowly bends the fingers, when treatment is worthwhile, and needle fasciotomy or fasciectomy.
Read the guideFinger arthritis
Arthritis of the DIP, PIP and MCP finger joints, and treatment from hand therapy, splints and guided injections to fusion, joint replacement and denervation.
Read the guideGanglion cysts of the wrist and hand
What ganglion cysts are, when they can safely be left alone, and when aspiration or surgical excision is worth considering.
Read the guideScaphoid fractures
A break in a small wrist bone that is easily missed, how it is diagnosed, and treatment in a cast or with screw fixation.
Read the guideTFCC tears and ulnar carpal impaction
Pain on the little-finger side of the wrist, what causes it, and the non-surgical and surgical treatments available.
Read the guideThumb base (CMC) arthritis
Pain and weakness at the base of the thumb, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options up to CMC joint replacement.
Read the guideTrigger finger / thumb
A finger or thumb that catches or locks as it bends, what causes it, and treatment from steroid injection to trigger finger release.
Read the guideWhen the problem starts in the neck
A trapped nerve or arthritis in the neck can cause pain in the shoulder or arm and tingling in the hand. Because the symptoms are felt away from the neck, it is sometimes mistaken for a shoulder, elbow or hand condition.
Scans and imaging
Scans such as ultrasound, MRI and CT help confirm a diagnosis and plan the right treatment. The imaging guide explains what each scan shows and what to expect on the day.
If your condition is not listed here, the practice team can advise. Get in touch with the practice.
Talk to the practice about your shoulder, elbow, hand or wrist
Call to arrange a consultation, book online for Circle Three Shires Hospital in Northampton, or send a short email and the practice team will come back to you.
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