Orthopaedics and trauma

Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery has revolutionised the treatment of many joint conditions or injuries, reducing scarring and allowing more rapid recovery.

Our surgeons have expertise in keyhole surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle, and offer advanced techniques for shoulder and knee reconstruction (including acute and chronic complex knee ligament injury and revision surgery) as well as all common pathologies.

We were one of the first centres in the UK to introduce computer-assisted hip and knee joint replacement. Our team of surgeons offer minimally-invasive and joint-preserving surgery and training to other surgeons from the UK and overseas. We also carry out cemented and uncemented hip replacement and hip resurfacing.

We also have substantial experience in standard knee replacement, unicompartmental and patello-femoral replacement, and regularly carry out complex and revision joint surgery and limb reconstruction.

In the upper limb, shoulder and wrist replacement surgery is available.

There is considerable expertise within the department in all aspects of sports injuries, but particularly shoulder, knee and ankle injuries where our surgeons have national reputations in their field.

The foot and ankle unit is home to three surgeons who concentrate exclusively on treating foot and ankle disorders.

Special footwear that offloads the forefoot is routinely supplied to patients attending for hallux valgus surgery and other forefoot osteotomies and fusions, minimising or eliminating the need for crutches or plaster casts in many cases.

Special interests include the primary and subsequent secondary management of complex hindfoot trauma including calcaneal fractures, therapeutic ankle arthroscopy, tendon and ankle ligament disorders, and surgery for the rheumatoid foot and ankle. A recent development is the introduction of ankle joint replacement surgery in selected cases.

The hand and peripheral nerve service is provided by two orthopaedic hand surgeons in conjunction with two of their plastic surgical colleagues.

Areas of special interest and experience include the reconstruction of peripheral nerve injuries, tendon transfers and the arthritic hand. An on-call hand emergency service is available.

Post-operative rehabilitation is performed by dedicated hand physiotherapists.

Our Fragility Fracture Liaison Service ‘responds to the first fracture to prevent the second’.

The service identifies patients who have had a fracture which should not have happened given the mechanics of the injury – a low-trauma fracture.

These patients are assessed using the FRAX tool, bloods and bone densitometry.  We provide lifestyle and dietary advice too because education of patients is key in fracture prevention. Engagement with Primary Care is essential to facilitate bone protection treatment where necessary.

Referrals to other healthcare professionals where necessary ensures holistic care, and we will also undertake follow-up phone calls to patients for whom treatment has been recommended in an attempt to prevent problems and promote compliance.

Patients with fragility fractures are entered onto the national database, so that they can be included in ongoing data collection and research.

Our fracture liaison sister has successfully undertaken the National Osteoporosis Society’s fracture prevention practitioner training.