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Orthopaedic surgeons deal with traumatic injuries to the bones and joints and diseases of the skeleton, the commonest of which is osteoarthritis. The joints involved with posture and movement include the spine, hips, knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, wrist and hands. As well as looking after problems with the bones, we also deal with problems involving the muscles, ligaments and nerves, including sports injuries.

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Trauma and Orthopaedic Department provides both elective (planned) and emergency services. We have a team of 13 consultants with special interests covering the whole range of orthopaedic conditions. The department incorporates the largest pelvic and acetabular fracture unit in the South of England, providing specialist services not available in other hospitals.

The pelvis makes up the “hip girdle” and the acetabulum is the socket of the hip joint. Three consultant surgeons specialise in this field of surgery and the Pelvic Unit also has specialist nurse support. St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust makes a significant contribution to research in this growing area of expertise.

Other tertiary referral units within Trauma and Orthopaedics at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust include hip and knee reconstruction, children’s orthopaedics and spinal surgery. A newly formed Hand Unit comprising orthopaedic and plastic surgeons will look after patients with traumatic hand and wrist injuries and diseases of the same structures, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. All of the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust surgeons have close links with the Department of Rheumatology.

A number of the consultants operate at the southwest London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). Opened in 2004, this is a purpose-built 65 bed unit on the site of Epsom Hospital with excellent transport links.

Now known as the Elective Orthopaedic Centre, this is the busiest joint replacement unit in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest in the world. St George’s patients needing hip replacement, knee replacement, ligament reconstruction, shoulder and foot surgery will generally undergo surgery in the Centre and then be followed up after surgery back at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We are also moving some spine surgery to the Elective Orthopaedic Centre.

Inpatient beds are located on the fifth floor of St James’ Wing. The Outpatient and Fracture Clinic is on the ground floor of St James’ Wing. Fracture Clinics take place on a daily basis in the morning. The Day Surgery Unit is a self contained department on the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust site.

The Elective Orthopaedic Centre is located on the Dorking Road, on the Epsom Hospital Site. The post code is KT18 7EG and telephone enquiries should be made to 01372 735 800.

The Elective Orthopaedic Centre website