Mr Oliver Donaldson

About

Special interests

• · Shoulder arthritis
• · Subacromial impingement
• · Rotator cuff tears/pathology
• · Shoulder dislocation
• · Tennis Elbow
• · Elbow Arthritis
• · Cubital tunnel syndrome
• · Pectoralis Minor syndrome

Treatments and tests offered by Mr Oliver Donaldson at Nuffield Health

• Osteotomy
• Image guided injections
• Shoulder surgery (rotator cuff repair)
• Shoulder manipulation
• Shoulder stabilisation
• Manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA)
• Shoulder decompression - keyhole surgery
• Shoulder replacement
• Elbow surgery
• Steroid injections (cortisone shots)
• Cubital tunnel release
• Tennis elbow release

Locations Mr Oliver Donaldson works with

Related experience

Research

I enjoy being involved in research and have ensured this remains an active part of my career.

I am principal investigator for a number of ongoing multicentre studies including the Rapsodi and Didact studies looking at outcomes following shoulder replacement and lateral clavicle fractures respectively.

I am co-author of the British Elbow and Shoulder Society/British Orthopaedic Association patient care pathway on anterior traumatic shoulder instability. This is published national guidance on shoulder dislocation and is used as a reference tool to guide shoulder surgeons and physiotherapists on management. My publications include:

1. Journal Articles (Primary & Senior Author)

Levitt, W., Roche, C., Elwell, J., & Donaldson, O. (2025). Does matching glenosphere size to patient height improve outcomes following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty? Shoulder & Elbow, 17(2), 164–173. doi.org

El-Tawil, S., Donaldson, O., et al. (2021). Systematic review with meta-analysis: Are muscle transfers effective for long thoracic nerve palsy? Cureus, 13(4), e14582. doi.org

Harries, L., Roche, C., Routman, H., Friedman, R., & Donaldson, O. (2021). Effect of subscapularis repair in patients with an intact rotator cuff undergoing reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. JSES Arthroplasty, 1(4), 252–259. doi.org

Al-Asiri, J., Donaldson, O., et al. (2021). Rationalization of orthopaedic surgical instrument trays: Three years’ experience of a practical approach to cut down unnecessary costs. Cureus, 13(11), e19881. doi.org

Donaldson, O., & Pearson, D. (2020). Pectoralis minor syndrome: diagnosis with Botulinum injection and surgical decompression. Shoulder & Elbow, 14(1_suppl), 44-51. doi.org

Malik, S., Donaldson, O., et al. (2020). Does a delay in surgery for distal radial fractures affect patient outcomes? Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), 45(9), 948-953. doi.org

Donaldson, O., Rogers, S., & Harrison, M. (2018). Are on-the-day group and save samples required for elective shoulder, hip and knee arthroplasties? Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 100(8), 646–651. doi.org

Green, R. N., Donaldson, O. W., Dafydd, M., Evans, S., & Kulkarni, R. (2014). Biomechanical study: determining the optimum insertion angle for screw-in suture anchors—is Deadman's angle correct? Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 30(12), 1535-1539. doi.org

Donaldson, O., Vannet, N., Gosens, T., & Kulkarni, R. (2014). Tendinopathies around the elbow part 2: Medial elbow, distal biceps and triceps tendinopathies. Shoulder & Elbow, 6(1), 47–53. doi.org

Donaldson, O., Vannet, N., Gosens, T., & Kulkarni, R. (2013). Tendinopathies around the elbow part 1: Lateral elbow tendinopathy. Shoulder & Elbow, 5(4), 213–218. doi.org

2. Multi-Centre Collaborative Journal Articles

Note: For large collaborative clinical trials, the study groups are named as the primary author, with Mr. Donaldson formally acknowledged within the published supplementary investigator lists.

Rangan, A., Logishetty, K., Corbacho, B., et al. [including Donaldson, O. as Local Investigator]. (2022). Subacromial balloon spacer for irreparable rotator cuff tears (START:REACTS): a group-sequential, double-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 399(10333), 1412-1422. doi.org

Beard, D. J., Rees, J. L., Cook, J. A., Rombach, I., Cooper, C., Merritt, N., ... & CSAW Study Group [including Donaldson, O.]. (2018). Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for subacromial shoulder pain (CSAW): a multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, placebo-controlled, three-arm, randomised surgical trial. The Lancet, 391(10118), 329-338. doi.org

Rangan, A., Handoll, H., Brealey, S., Jefferson, L., Keding, A., Martin, B. C., ... & PROFHER Trial Collaborators [including Donaldson, O.]. (2015). Surgical fixation vs non-surgical care for adults with displaced fractures of the proximal humerus: the PROFHER randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 313(10), 1037-1047. doi.org

3. Guidelines & Book Chapters

Donaldson, O., & Jones, A. (2022). Shoulder Disorders. In S. Agarwal (Ed.), Current Orthopaedic Practice (pp. 129–167). Springer, Cham. doi.org

British Elbow and Shoulder Society, & British Orthopaedic Association. (2015). BESS/BOA patient care pathways: Traumatic anterior shoulder instability. Shoulder & Elbow, 7(3), 214–226. (Donaldson, O., Committee Co-Author). doi.org

Memberships

• British Orthopaedic Association
• British Elbow and Shoulder society
• Royal College of Surgeons (England)

Other posts held

• Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Yeovil District Hospital
• Board member for OTSIS (Orthopaedic and Trauma Specialists Indemnity Scheme)

Insurers Mr Oliver Donaldson works with

Mr Oliver Donaldson works with the following private medical insurance providers:

• Aviva Health
• AXA Health
• Bupa
• Westfield Health WPA
• Healix
• Vitality Health (Pru Health)
• Cigna
• Health-on-Line
• The Exeter
• General & Medical
• Police Mutual
• Benenden Health

Declaration

Mr Oliver Donaldson does not hold a share or financial interest in this hospital, another Nuffield Health hospital or the company.

Mr Oliver Donaldson does not have a share or financial interest in equipment used at this hospital or another Nuffield Health hospital.

Mr Oliver Donaldson does not hold any paid advisory role(s) at this hospital or on behalf of Nuffield Health.