Shoulder and elbow surgery abroad: what you should know

Facing a long wait for shoulder or elbow surgery? What to understand about having it done abroad — waiting times, cost, quality, and how the process works.

Shoulder and elbow problems — from rotator cuff tears to joint arthritis — can be treated with a range of surgical options, but appointments with the right specialist and a surgery slot can both take a long time to come through. Having it done abroad is a legitimate option worth understanding.

Why the wait can be so long

In the Netherlands, the officially agreed maximum acceptable waiting time — the "Treeknorm" — is around four weeks for a first specialist appointment and six to seven weeks for treatment. For planned shoulder and elbow orthopaedic surgery, actual waits frequently run longer than that norm, and they vary from one hospital to another. It is worth checking the current published waiting time at your own hospital.

What shoulder and elbow surgery involves

Depending on the diagnosis, treatment can range from arthroscopic repair of tendons and ligaments to joint replacement. Whether surgery is right for you, which technique suits your case, and what your recovery will look like are decisions only your treating orthopaedic surgeon can make after assessing you. Saluvia does not give medical advice — this is general background, not a recommendation.

Why people consider having it done abroad

• Speed — being treated in weeks rather than months.
• Cost— you pay the hospital directly, the same price as going direct, and Saluvia's coordination is free to you. International patients are not charged Turkish VAT, so the total can be considerably lower than comparable private care in Western Europe. We do not publish per-treatment prices; the hospital confirms costs for your specific case.
• Quality — in Istanbul, the American Hospital and Koç University Hospital are members of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and hold JCI accreditation.

How it works with Saluvia

The process is the same as for any treatment we coordinate: you share your situation, the hospital's orthopaedic specialists review it and advise, and — if you decide to go ahead — we help you plan. Read the full walkthrough in How treatment abroad works, step by step, and if safety is on your mind, see how to judge a hospital abroad.

How to prepare

• Gather your relevant medical records in English — imaging reports (X-ray/MRI), referral letters, and a current medication list.
• Write down the questions you want to ask the hospital's specialists.
• Note your availability, so planning is straightforward once the hospital advises.

Every clinical decision about your shoulder or elbow is made by the hospital's own doctors. Our job is to get you to the right specialists quickly and support you through the process.

Request a free assessment to find out what treatment could look like for you.

Saluvia provides coordination, guidance, and information only — not medical advice. All medical assessment is carried out by the doctors at our partner hospitals.