The end of the year is when we like to pause and reflect on the last 12 months and the patients we’ve helped to reclaim their quality of life.
Reflection
It is always a pleasure to me to think back over the many different people I have seen over the year and consider how their lives have changed as the result of the interventions Carrothers Orthopaedics has made.
It is the most rewarding part of my job to see people walk out of our doors with a smile on their face because they have their mobility (and their quality of life) back.
If you are one of them, I hope this festive season will be extra special for you as you enjoy being able to move freely again and without debilitating pain.
Moving forwards but not forgetting
Thankfully, the UK is in a different place to where we were this time last year and in 2020 as the impacts of Covid have continued to lessen. Of course, they haven’t gone away completely and we expect to see ongoing challenges for many years to come. Sadly, for many families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, things never will truly go back to normal and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone who is bereaved, particularly at this time of year.
Making progress with Mako robotic arm assisted joint replacement
On a personal level, having now performed over 500 Mako joint replacements, the number of patients now choosing to have Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery is very pleasing and I’m looking forward to this continuing to grow. As orthopaedic surgeons we are constantly striving to improve the outcomes for our patients and Mako technology helps us to do this. You can read about the reasons for this in our blogs but, in essence, Mako improves precision, reduces the risk of complications and can lead to faster recovery times and less pain. For some patients, the term ‘robotic’ can sometimes be a bit daunting but I am able to reassure them that the Mako system enhances the orthopaedic surgeon’s skill rather than replacing it. The robotic arm cannot move by itself or make decisions, it merely guides the surgeon and helps to improve accuracy.
We’ve also seen growing numbers of patients opting for Conformis bespoke knee implants. These prosthetic implants are custom-made for individual patients and, once again, it’s all about improving accuracy and patient experience. A study that compared conventional total knee replacements with custom-made implants found that 94.3% of Conformis patients reported being satisfied a year after surgery compared with 74.2% of conventional implant patients. In January 2022, we published an article weighing up Mako robotic arm assisted knee surgery against custom-made knee implants. You may be interested to read it if this is something you are thinking about in the future.
Thank you from Carrothers Orthopaedics!
If you were one of our patients this year, I would like to thank you for choosing Carrothers Orthopaedics.
If you are considering becoming a patient next year, we’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your symptoms and how we can help.
I would like to say a particularly big thank you to my fantastic team who go above and beyond to support me and our patients and to keep everything running smoothly. I couldn’t do this without you so thank you for everything you do.
I would also like to pass on my gratitude to all patients who have chosen to write a review for Carrothers Orthopaedics on the independent review platform, I Want Great Care. We have now, proudly, gathered over 550 (to date) reviews, with an overall 5/5 star rating! Patients find these reviews invaluable as it provides hope that they too can return to a pain-free life and also reassurance when considering and choosing Carrothers Orthopaedics for treatment. Thank you!
Finally, on behalf of myself and my team, I would like to wish you all a happy festive season and a healthy (and pain-free!) New Year.
Andrew Carrothers
Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
Assistant Professor, University of Cambridge
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako robotic arm assisted surgery and conventional surgery.
For more information, please contact us.
Our consultation fees are clearly presented here.
For your convenience, we offer appointments at both Nuffield Hospital Cambridge and Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital.
