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The Reading Shoulder Unit - Introduction
The Reading Shoulder Unit is an international centre of excellence based at
the Royal Berkshire Hospital and the Berkshire Independent Hospital (formerly Capio)
 
The unit was established by two leading orthopaedic surgeons
Stephen Copeland FRCS and Ofer Levy MD MCh(Orth).
 
The Reading shoulder unit team:
Three Consultant orthopaedic surgeons:
Mr Stephen Copeland FRCS, Prof. Ofer Levy MD MCh(Orth)
& Mr Giuseppe Sforza, MD
Consultant anaesthetists:
Prof Rachel Hall FRCA; Dr Atul Kapila MBBS, FRCA
Dr Warren Fisher MBBS, FRCA; Dr Sally-Ann Ryder MBBS, FRCA; Dr Ian Rechner MBBS, FRCA
working alongside 2 shoulder surgery fellows:
Omar Haddo FRCS(Tr&Orth) & Peer Koning MD
An experienced team of physiotherapists, nurses, secretaries,
a Bio-mechanical engineer, IT and research staff and Medical statistician.
The unit is full equipped to treat all kinds of shoulder problems including:
Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery
Shoulder reconstructive surgery
Shoulder replacement
Rotator cuff repair
Fractures
Dislocations
Sports Injuries
Arthritis Degenerative Conditions
Children's abnormalities
The Shoulder Surgery Unit is located on the top floor of The Mansion, Outpatients Department, Capio Reading Hospital, close by a fully equipped physiotherapy department.
The surgeons operate at the Royal Berkshire Hospital , The Berkshire Independent Hospital (formerly Capio), and the Dunedin Hospital. They are supported by a dedicated theatre team at all three venues.
The physiotherapists run a shoulder assessment and rehabilitation programme for patients being treated by Stephen Copeland, Ofer Levy & Giuseppe Sforza.
There are computerised patient records and an IT network link between the Shoulder Unit, the operating theatres and outpatient clinics in all participating Reading Hospitals.
Research and Development
The unit's work includes basic scientific and clinical studies, as well as the development and introduction of new techniques in both arthroscopic and open surgery.
We have introduced the concept of 'One-stop clinic' for diagnosis and treatment of shoulder problems by performing Ultrasound scan of the shoulder at the time of first consultation, saving the patient time and discomfort and initiating treatment without delay.
In fact, the Unit was responsible for developing "The Copeland Shoulder", a cementless resurfacing shoulder replacement technique now used worldwide.
The development of the 'Verso shoulder system', a cementless bone preserving reversed geometry shoulder replacement.
Development of arthroscopic techniques and instruments, and It has also pioneered the use of thermal shrinkage for arthroscopic stabilisation, following extensive research.
There is regular collaborative research between the Reading Shoulder Unit, Reading University, Brunel university, Manchester university and Imperial College, London.
The Unit has produced standardised rehabilitation protocols in conjunction with specialist shoulder physiotherapists at the Reading Hospitals. These protocols are currently being adopted by other hospitals and physiotherapists in the area.
Teaching, Surgical education & Training
The Shoulder Unit is internationally renowned for its training programmes. Since 1982 it has held Shoulder Surgery Courses at Reading University. These courses attract both British and European Shoulder Surgeons. Teaching seminars for general Practitioners, Physiotherapists and Nurses are also held regularly at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and Capio Reading Hospital. Corses on shoulder surgery for specialist registrars are regularly held in the unit. Several times a year the Reading shoulder unit hold advanced shoulder surgery courses for arthroscopic surgery and for shoulder arthroplasty. These courses include satelite transmission of live surgery and workshops.
Within the Reading shoulder unit there is fully equipped bioskills laboratory for teaching and practicing arthroscopic techniques.
 
 
The shoulder fellows practice at the bio-skills lab which now has a Virtual Reality Haptic Training Simulator for arthroscopic surgery, which has been developed with collaboration of the Unit.
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