Meet Mr Usman Butt, Our Consultant Shoulder & Upper Limb Surgeon
MB ChB (Hons), CMgr MCMI, MBA, FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Mr Usman Butt is a highly experienced, fellowship-trained Consultant Shoulder & Upper Limb Surgeon specialising in the assessment and treatment of conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow and wider upper limb.
His elective surgical practice is dedicated to upper limb care, with a particular focus on shoulder problems such as rotator cuff disorders, instability, labral injuries, stiffness, arthritis and traumatic injuries.
Shoulder symptoms can make everyday activities such as dressing, driving, working, exercising or sleeping difficult. Mr Butt takes time to understand how a condition affects each patient before explaining the available treatment options in clear, straightforward language.
His approach combines evidence-based care with shared decision-making. Whether treatment involves physiotherapy, injections, keyhole surgery, joint replacement or reassurance, recommendations are tailored to the patient’s diagnosis, lifestyle and goals.
Specialist Shoulder & Upper Limb Care Focused On Your Needs
Shoulder and upper limb problems can affect strength, movement, confidence and independence. Symptoms may develop gradually through overuse or degeneration, or begin suddenly following a sporting injury, fall or other trauma.
Mr Butt provides detailed specialist assessments designed to identify the cause of pain or restricted movement and determine the most appropriate next step.
Your care may involve:
- Reassurance and activity guidance
- Specialist physiotherapy
- Steroid injections
- Shoulder hydrodilatation
- Platelet-rich plasma treatment where appropriate
- Further scans or diagnostic investigations
- Arthroscopic shoulder surgery
- Tendon or rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder stabilisation
- Joint replacement surgery
Every recommendation is based on the nature of the condition, the impact of symptoms and what the patient hopes to achieve through treatment.
Expertise, Fellowship Training & Specialist Experience
Mr Butt’s practice covers both common and complex shoulder and upper limb conditions. His clinical interests include tendon disorders, instability, sports injuries, arthritis, stiffness, fractures and traumatic injuries.
He graduated with honours from the University of Birmingham in 2004. His early surgical training took place in the Midlands, where he gained broad experience across orthopaedics, emergency medicine, vascular surgery and plastic surgery.
After returning to Manchester, he completed higher specialist training in trauma and orthopaedics across the North West. This culminated in the award of Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Trauma & Orthopaedics in 2012.
Mr Butt then pursued advanced subspecialty training through UK and international fellowships in shoulder, elbow, upper limb and sports injury surgery. His UK fellowship experience includes training at the renowned Wrightington Upper Limb Unit and Stockport Shoulder Unit.
Internationally, he completed competitively awarded travelling fellowships in Milan, Italy, and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. These opportunities allowed him to work alongside and exchange ideas with internationally recognised specialists in shoulder, elbow and sports surgery.
His areas of expertise include:
- Shoulder pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder instability
- Shoulder labral injuries
- Shoulder impingement
- Shoulder arthritis
- Shoulder bursitis
- Shoulder stiffness
- AC joint conditions
- Biceps injuries
- Pectoralis major injuries
- Tendon disorders
- Sports-related shoulder injuries
- Clavicle fractures
- Humerus fractures
- Upper limb trauma
- Arthroscopic shoulder surgery
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder stabilisation
- Shoulder replacement surgery
Clinical Leadership
Alongside his specialist surgical practice, Mr Butt serves as Clinical Head of Division for Trauma & Orthopaedics at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
His leadership responsibilities involve contributing to the organisation and development of orthopaedic services, supporting clinical teams and helping maintain high standards of patient care.
His professional interests include:
- Clinical leadership
- Patient safety
- Service development
- Surgical decision-making
- Quality improvement
- Multidisciplinary working
- Training and mentorship
- Patient outcomes
Mr Butt also holds qualifications in management and business administration. This wider experience supports his approach to delivering care that is organised, evidence-based and focused on what matters to patients.
Education, Mentorship & Surgical Training
Mr Butt remains actively involved in teaching and supporting the development of surgeons and other healthcare professionals.
His educational work draws on his experience in shoulder, elbow and upper limb surgery, as well as his fellowship training at leading specialist centres in the UK, Europe and the United States.
He regularly contributes to professional meetings where surgeons discuss new evidence, treatment techniques, patient outcomes and difficult clinical decisions.
Through teaching and mentorship, Mr Butt helps share specialist knowledge and promote careful, patient-centred decision-making within orthopaedic practice.
Research, Publications & Professional Recognition
Mr Butt has authored peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters covering upper limb and wider orthopaedic surgery.
His work has been presented at national and international conferences and has received multiple awards and prize-winning accolades.
Professional achievements include:
The ESSKA Travelling Fellowship enabled him to undertake specialist experience with a leading shoulder and sports surgeon in Milan. The Mayo Elbow Fellowship allowed him to work alongside specialists at the Mayo Clinic and exchange ideas with international leaders in upper limb surgery.
Mr Butt is listed on the Specialist Register for Trauma & Orthopaedics. His continuing involvement in research, education and professional meetings reflects a commitment to evidence-based practice, ongoing development and improving patient outcomes.
Conditions Treated By Mr Usman Butt
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain may arise from the tendons, muscles, joint surfaces, bursa or surrounding structures. Symptoms can affect sleep, work, exercise and routine tasks such as reaching overhead or putting on clothing.
A specialist assessment can help identify the likely cause and determine whether physiotherapy, an injection, further imaging or another treatment may be appropriate.
Rotator Cuff Tears & Tendon Problems
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that helps lift, rotate and stabilise the shoulder. These tendons can become irritated, weakened or torn through injury, overuse or age-related change.
Treatment depends on the type and size of the tear, the patient’s symptoms, their activity level and how the condition affects strength and movement.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder causes progressive pain and stiffness, often making it difficult to reach upwards, behind the back or away from the body.
Although the condition can improve over time, treatment may help manage pain and restore movement. Options can include physiotherapy, injections, hydrodilatation or surgery in selected cases.
Shoulder Instability & Labral Tears
Shoulder instability occurs when the joint repeatedly slips, dislocates or feels as though it may give way. This can follow an injury or develop because the supporting tissues are naturally loose.
Damage to the labrum, which helps stabilise the joint, may also contribute to pain, clicking or recurrent instability. Treatment is based on the cause, severity and effect on daily activity or sport.
Shoulder Impingement & Bursitis
Impingement and bursitis can cause pain when lifting the arm, reaching overhead or lying on the affected side.
These symptoms may be associated with irritation of the tendons or bursa. Physiotherapy, activity modification and injections may be considered before surgery, depending on the diagnosis.
Shoulder Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, grinding sensations and progressive loss of movement. Symptoms may make dressing, washing, sleeping and using the arm increasingly difficult.
Non-surgical treatment may provide relief in some cases. Where arthritis is advanced and significantly affecting quality of life, shoulder replacement surgery may be discussed.
AC Joint Conditions
The acromioclavicular joint sits at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. Arthritis, injury or instability at this joint can cause localised pain, particularly during lifting or cross-body movement.
Treatment may include physiotherapy, injections, AC joint excision or stabilisation, depending on the cause and severity of symptoms.
Sports Injuries
Sporting activity can lead to rotator cuff injuries, instability, labral tears, fractures and tendon damage.
Mr Butt assesses both recreational and competitive athletes, with treatment aimed at restoring function and supporting a safe return to activity where possible.
Fractures & Upper Limb Trauma
Sporting activity can lead to rotator cuff injuries, instability, labral tears, fractures and tendon damage.
Mr Butt assesses both recreational and competitive athletes, with treatment aimed at restoring function and supporting a safe return to activity where possible.
Conservative Treatment Before Surgery Where Suitable
Mr Butt considers non-surgical care wherever it offers a reasonable prospect of improving pain, movement and function.
For many shoulder and upper limb conditions, initial treatment may involve:
- Specialist physiotherapy
- Activity modification
- Rehabilitation exercises
- Pain relief
- Steroid injections
- Shoulder hydrodilatation
- Monitoring and review
- Reassurance and guidance
Surgery may be considered when symptoms continue despite appropriate treatment, when an injury is unlikely to heal satisfactorily without repair, or when joint damage is significantly affecting everyday life.
Where an operation is unlikely to offer meaningful benefit, Mr Butt will explain this clearly and help the patient consider a more suitable care pathway.
What To Expect At Your Shoulder Consultation
Your consultation allows you to explain your symptoms, concerns and priorities in detail.
Mr Butt will usually:
Ask when your symptoms began
Discuss any injury or previous shoulder problem
Explore how pain or weakness affects work, sleep and daily activities
Review previous treatments and rehabilitation
Examine shoulder movement, strength and stability
Review available X-rays, ultrasound scans or MRI scans
Explain the likely diagnosis in patient-friendly language
Discuss surgical and non-surgical options
Recommend further tests where required
Agree a personalised treatment plan
Patients are encouraged to bring previous scan images, reports, clinic correspondence and an up-to-date list of medications where available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Need Shoulder Surgery?
Not necessarily. Many shoulder conditions improve with physiotherapy, rehabilitation, injections or changes to activity. Surgery may be considered when symptoms remain significant, the shoulder is repeatedly unstable or an injury requires repair.
Can Mr Butt Review My Existing Shoulder Scan?
Yes. Existing X-rays, ultrasound scans and MRI images can usually be reviewed during your consultation. Further imaging may be requested if the scans are outdated or do not provide enough information.
Does Mr Butt Only Treat Shoulder Conditions?
His elective practice focuses on the shoulder and wider upper limb. This includes conditions affecting the elbow, tendons, AC joint, biceps and upper limb following injury.
What Is Keyhole Shoulder Surgery?
Keyhole surgery, also known as shoulder arthroscopy, uses a small camera and instruments inserted through small incisions. It may be used to treat rotator cuff tears, instability, labral injuries and other selected conditions.
How Long Does Recovery From Shoulder Surgery Take?
Recovery varies according to the procedure, condition and individual patient. Some operations require a sling and structured rehabilitation over several months. Mr Butt will explain the expected recovery before treatment.
Can I See Mr Butt As A Self-Pay Patient?
Altibury Health welcomes self-pay and insured patients. The team can provide information about consultation fees, insurer requirements and appointment availability before you book.
Will My Consultation & Operation Take Place At The Same Hospital?
Not always. Consultations may be available at several clinics, while surgery may need to take place at a hospital with the appropriate theatre, imaging and inpatient facilities.
What Should I Bring To My Appointment?
Bring any previous scans and reports, clinic letters, a list of current medication and information about physiotherapy or other treatments you have already tried. Writing down your questions beforehand can also be helpful.
Book A Consultation With Mr Usman Butt
If shoulder pain, weakness, stiffness or instability is affecting your sleep, work, sport or everyday activities, a specialist consultation can help you understand the cause and decide what to do next.
Mr Usman Butt provides expert assessment and treatment for common and complex shoulder and upper limb conditions. His approach combines advanced fellowship training, evidence-based care and personalised decision-making, with non-surgical treatment considered wherever appropriate.
Call 0161 850 4786 or email mrbutt.clinic@altiburyhealth.co.uk to discuss appointment availability.