Click here to read my new Topdoctor article: Which treatments delay knee surgery?

http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/372/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/372/pub/372/page/5/article/88692

I am saddened to see the inevitable cost of a hard lockdown upon planned surgical care.

I am available to help see any patient for advice and assistance and can help prioritise care in the NHS and also offer Privately funded, self-funded or NHS treatment in a private hospital though the NHS electronic referral scheme

Please phone or email me for details

Thanks to everyone that commented on the Facebook Beckenham Group this week, your feedback is much appreciated. Please click on the link below to read the reviews

The loss of three months of operating and the phased return to planned surgery, will sadly but inevitably mean that many more people with knee joint problems will be left on NHS waiting lists in pain. One clinical proven way to help cope with the pain, but to keep mobile and enjoy a more active life, is to use an Unloader Brace.

These are more sophisticated than the neoprene hinged brace commonly offered and there is a large body of clinical evidence showing reductions in pain and swelling, improvements in activity and a significant delay to surgery.

In one study published in the BMJ, the Unloader delayed surgery for 39% patients and 25% did not require any form of surgery by the end of the 8 year period. This was both for patients with torn cartilage (meniscal tears) and Knee arthritis.

I can offer a variety of services to help, ranging from ;
Consultation with myself with thorough history and examination and X-rays included – £250
Supply and fitting of the brace by a trained fitter – £599
Package including all of the above (Consultation, X-ray and supply and fit brace) – £839

Please email me on hipskneesandfeet@mac.com  for any enquiries, or to book an appointment

I underwent a successful appraisal of both my NHS and Private practices today and am happy to report that no concerns were raised about either.

Please see the Consent section to download forms with information about the procedure

Please see the Anaesthetic tab for choices of Anaesthesia

http://www.hipskneesandfeet.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Spinal-Anaesthetic.pdf

According to the Lancet Feb 2019

82% of Total knee replacements will last 25 years

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32531-5/fulltext

57% of Total hip replacements will last 25 years

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31859-2/fulltext

I can confirm that according to the NJR, only 1.4% of the 855 Total hip replacements performed by myself and 1.1% of the 515 Total knee replacements performed by myself have been revised 10 years after implantation.

The benefits of this procedure have been subject to some debate over the past few years, I can confirm that I follow the recently proposed guidelines of the BASK (British Association for Surgery of the Knee)

https://baskonline.com/professional/clinical-care/meniscal-surgery-guidelines/#1531380165416-89d240cf-0dd0

Mr Walczak is now practising at the London Independent Hospital.

1 Beaumont  square
Stepney Green
E1 4NL
0207 780 2400

Mr Walczak is now consulting and operating at KIMS.

Mr Walczak is happy to announce that the Swiss Dolar Clast treatment is now available at the Sloane Hospital.

Mr Walczak is pleased to announce that he is now also consulting from Shirley Oaks Hospital.

Metal on Metal Hips – There is considerable anxiety about the outcome and complications of metal on metal hips. I can confirm that I have never used the DePuy ASR hip, which has caused the most complications, but I have implanted other metal hip bearings over the past few years.

Anyone who has had a metal hip bearing should be checked out in terms of a simple blood test for Cobalt and Chromium levels, Xrays and if necessary ultrasound or MRI scan to make sure there is no metal debris around the new hip.

I stress that this is a rare risk and it is only a problem affecting a very small percentage of men and a slightly larger percentage of women of (may be up to 7% or so.)

Unfortunately the Internet is full of idle speculation, often based upon anecdotal evidence, some of which has been fuelled by lawyers wishing to pursue litigation.

Just to confirm that Chromium, which exists as Chromium Phosphate around the implant does not cause any problems, in fact it may help to reduce the symptoms of diabetes by improving the efficiency of insulin.

The Cobalt that can accumulate has in very rare cases been associated with heart and brain malfunctions, but this is only in extremely high levels, which are very unusual to find around a hip replacement. Nonetheless if there are abnormal blood levels, this can indicate increasing wear or metal release and therefore indicates that there should be regular clinical checks.

If you have any concerns, I suggest that you an appropriate appointment to let me either re-assure you, or rectify the situation.

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