Shoulder and Elbow Surgery: Perioperative Management and Rehabilitation

Dear Colleagues,

Shoulder and elbow disorders represent a substantial and growing burden in both the general population and physically active individuals. With population aging, increasing participation in recreational and competitive sports, and rising expectations for functional recovery, the demand for effective surgical treatment of shoulder and elbow conditions continues to increase. Advances in arthroscopic techniques, implant technology, biologic augmentation, anesthesia, pain management, and rehabilitation have substantially changed the management of these disorders. However, achieving successful outcomes requires more than technically successful surgery; appropriate patient selection, perioperative management, individualized rehabilitation, and evidence-based return-to-activity strategies are equally important.  Recent developments in minimally invasive surgery and enhanced recovery protocols have created new opportunities to improve clinical outcomes while reducing complications and facilitating earlier functional recovery. At the same time, several important questions remain regarding optimal rehabilitation timing, postoperative immobilization, pain control, prevention and management of complications, return-to-sport criteria, and the integration of emerging technologies into perioperative care. Further clinical evidence is therefore needed to establish effective and reproducible treatment pathways across the continuum of shoulder and elbow care.

This Special Issue, entitled ‘Shoulder and Elbow Surgery: Perioperative Management and Rehabilitation,’ aims to present and disseminate recent advances in the surgical treatment and perioperative care of shoulder and elbow disorders. We welcome original research articles, systematic and narrative reviews, meta-analyses, technical studies, and clinically relevant case series addressing surgical techniques, perioperative management, rehabilitation, functional recovery, complications, and return to sports or activity.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following: advances in arthroscopic and open shoulder and elbow surgery; rotator cuff repair and biologic augmentation; shoulder instability and labral reconstruction; shoulder and elbow arthroplasty; tendon and ligament injuries around the shoulder and elbow; perioperative anesthesia, multimodal analgesia, and postoperative pain management; postoperative immobilization and rehabilitation protocols; prevention and management of surgical complications; functional outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures; return to sports, work, and daily activities after surgery; rehabilitation and return-to-play strategies for athletes; enhanced recovery after surgery and outpatient surgical pathways; digital health, wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and remote rehabilitation; predictors of surgical outcomes, complications, and recovery; comparative studies of surgical techniques and rehabilitation strategies. 

We hope that this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform for clinicians and researchers to share high-quality evidence and innovative approaches that improve surgical outcomes, perioperative care, and functional recovery in patients with shoulder and elbow disorders.

Dr. Jaesung Yoo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• shoulder surgery
• elbow surgery
• arthroscopic surgery
• rotator cuff repair
• shoulder instability
• perioperative management
• postoperative rehabilitation
• sports medicine
• return to sport
• clinical outcomes