Leading Hip Surgery Practice

Around 75% of my leading hip surgery practice is related to hip replacements and resurfacing, and 25% to the knee. The hip can present a wide range of problems and pathologies, and as such an orthopaedic surgeon needs a range of abilities to help the variety of patients who seek help.

Primary hip replacement is the staple procedure for most hip specialists, and improving surgical techniques and technologies mean that we can offer solutions to even the youngest of arthritic patients, and have a reasonable expectation of life long success. The designs of hip implants mean we can preserve a patient's bone for longer, and conservative designs mean that subsequent procedures, should they be required, carry less trauma and risk than previously.

Revision hip replacement has likewise improved of late, with designs 'loading' the bone better than ever before and thereby maintaining bone strength for longer.

Younger patients are increasingly presenting with 'pre-arthritic' symptoms such as impingement lesions and labral tears. These can now be treated either as open or key-hole procedures allowing day-case surgery, and we hope, delaying the onset of subsequent arthritis.

My Surgical Training

Having studied medicine in Sheffield and competing surgical and higher surgical training in Bristol, I became the 'Lecturer' in the University of Bristol, responsible for teaching of the students and doctors of the future. I have always enjoyed education, and was delighted to receive the 'Romeo Vecht' award as Teacher of the Year during this period. I have subsequently taken this teaching role increasingly seriously, and was for a time in charge of teaching the Orthopaedic trainees in the South West, before becoming 'Programme Director', in charge of Orthopaedic training in the Severn Deanery.

To optimize my clinical expertise, I travelled to Toronto in 2003 to train with Professor Jim Waddell, and Emil Schemitsch, two highly regarded figures in world orthopaedics. I then returned to Bristol and worked with Professors Learmonth and Bannister to ensure I had the very best surgical skills possible to offer my patients, becoming a consultant later that year.

Other Professional Responsibilities

As mentioned above, I am Programme Director for orthopaedic training of surgeons in the Severn region, from Yeovil to Cheltenham, and from Swindon to Bristol.

I also shortlist and interview prospective new students to the University of Bristol, as an experienced member of the Medical Admissions Committee - I think it's really important to carefully choose those who will be looking after us in our dotage!

Finally, I am the Orthopaedic representative on the Nuffield Medical Advisory Committee which ensures that standards are maintained within the hospital.

Outside Interests

I enjoy exercise and sport as a way to clear the head and maintain my health. Having represented Great Britain at triathlon in 1999 and 2002, I returned to the sport last year and have completed Ironman Triathlon (Swim 2.5miles, Cycle 112miles, run 26.2miles) races in Switzerland and Austria, setting a new PB this year in just over 11 hrs.

I can certainly empathise my patients’ desires to return to activites and sports in many cases after their surgery, and perform their hip surgery with this in mind.