Prof. Ockert in an interview with the SZ: Shoulder injury – surgery or conservative therapy?
- Mar 29
- 3 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
1. How do you decide whether surgery is really necessary for a shoulder injury, or whether conservative treatment such as immobilization and physiotherapy is sufficient?
Prof. Ockert: Many shoulder injuries can be treated effectively conservatively. However, if conservative treatment after a shoulder injury is predictably unsuccessful, or pain increases, then surgical treatment is an alternative. Surgery makes sense if the patient benefits compared to conservative treatment, for example, if repairing a torn tendon eliminates the cause of the pain, improves quality of life, and protects the joint from subsequent damage.
It's important to maintain confidence in your shoulder. Movements that don't hurt are rarely harmful.
2. What options do patients have to heal their shoulder after an injury without surgery, and how long does it usually take until they can return to their daily routine or sports?
Prof. Ockert: Time and again, I observe how the patient's self-healing powers allow shoulder injuries to heal without surgery. It's important to maintain confidence in the shoulder. Movements that don't hurt are rarely harmful. With exercises within the pain-free range, the range of motion can usually be restored within 1-2 weeks for everyday life, or 3-4 weeks for sports. If this isn't the case, a specialist should be consulted by then at the latest.
The decision for or against surgery depends on how the patient is coping with the injury, whether conservative therapy is working and what expectations, for example, the job or sport places on shoulder function.
3. What role does MRI play in the precise diagnosis of shoulder injuries, and how can it help in making preoperative decisions?
Prof. Ockert: In addition to manual examination and ultrasound, MRI diagnostics are particularly helpful in accurately assessing shoulder injuries and making them visible to the patient. The decision for or against surgery depends more on how the patient is coping with the injury, whether conservative treatment is working, and what expectations, for example, of work or sports, place on shoulder function.
4. To what extent does autologous blood therapy (PRP therapy) play a role in the treatment of shoulder sports injuries, and how effective is it compared to other conservative methods such as physiotherapy or anti-inflammatory injections?
Prof. Ockert: Over the last 10 years, autologous blood therapy has established itself as a conservative treatment alternative, for example, for early-stage tendon damage. I don't perform PRP therapy myself, as my specialization lies in the treatment of more severe shoulder injuries that, for example, don't achieve the desired healing success with autologous blood therapy.
5. What does the typical rehabilitation process after a shoulder injury look like, and what role does cooperation with physiotherapists play?
Prof. Ockert: The patient receives a rehabilitation plan tailored to their specific injury. Close collaboration with the physiotherapists is important, as each shoulder can exhibit a unique dynamic during the healing process. It may be necessary to ease off the pace at one point or accelerate therapy beyond the prescribed timeframe at another. In this case, the patient benefits enormously from experienced therapists.
Sometimes small therapeutic adjustments can have a big impact on shoulder function and quality of life.
6. How do you provide a second opinion to patients who are unsure about their options after a shoulder injury? What aspects do you emphasize to help them make an informed decision?
Prof. Ockert: After a shoulder injury, there is often a great deal of uncertainty, but that's not necessary. Especially in Munich and the surrounding area, we have excellent orthopedic and trauma surgeons who set the right course and initiate appropriate measures for patients. When providing a second opinion, my advantage is that I usually have all the necessary examinations at my disposal and can already assess the effects of the chosen treatment. Sometimes small therapeutic adjustments can have a major impact on shoulder function and quality of life.
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