Mr Sam Rajaratnam

Written by a private patient at The Horder Centre

Very personable and professional and was even happy to see me at short notice on a Saturday to address concerns I had regarding the swelling, which was entirely normal. If you have a knee problem I would 100% recommend you go and see him.

Recommend

Trust

Listening

Written by a private patient at Schoen Clinic London

Dr. Rajaratnam performed knee surgery on my Mother of 84 years; from the initial consultation through preparatory advice including referring an excellent physiotherapist and on to the surgery and follow-up Dr. Rajaratnam was professional kind and thorough and the surgery was entirely successful without complications.

Recommend

Trust

Listening

Written by a private patient at The Horder Centre

In November 2022, Mr Rajaratnam performed a total knee replacement on myself with marvellous proficiency and professionalism. He showed great empathy and care. Recovery has been on course and with very little scarring. All aspects of the operation were discussed at the initial consultation and I am very pleased and thankful to him for the resulting vast improvement in my mobility.

Recommend

Trust

Listening

Written by a private patient at The Horder Centre

Mr Rajaratnam and the ROSA procedure has transformed my life. I was referred to Sam in 2016 following years of failed knee reconstruction ops after suffering a number of sports injuries to both legs. Sam performed an exploratory / clean-up operation on both knees and informed me that sooner or later my left knee would eventually need to be replaced at age 45. Six years later I returned with the knee having degraded to the point that I was in continual pain and affecting my gait. I contacted Sharon Hanks, Sam’s wonderful secretary, who remembered me and arranged for an appointment. Following X-rays and MRIs, Sam informed me that my left knee needed complete replacement and if I was willing, there was new, groundbreaking, robotic technology available, called ROSA at The Horder Centre. I jumped at the chance (on my better leg). I went in on a Tuesday morning at 9am and was out of theatre within two hours. I was up on crutches a few hours later. I was walking un-aided the next day for short periods, and up and about with a stick for extended periods soon after. One week post op, I was walking freely with a limp, and after some great physio from Richard Massimo was nearly back to normal after four weeks and raring to get back to an active life. By six weeks, I had over-stretched myself, thinking I could return to normal activities. Sam and Richard, the physio, reigned me back in. You literally cannot run before you learn to walk properly again. At eight weeks, following more physio, I was ready to start rebuilding muscle and strength in the knee. At twelve weeks, the strength is coming back. The knee is getting stronger by the day. I cannot recommend Mr Rajaratnam and his team highly enough. A true gentleman, a very reassuring and kind manner, and obviously at the forefront of his field. I know where I shall be going to get the right knee done (if he has not retired). Life-changing.

Recommend

Trust

Listening

Written by a private patient at Schoen Clinic London

Chris Drew, 71, a keen road cyclist, walker and skier contacted Sam Rajaratnam when he needed a total knee replacement: Getting in touch with Sam Rajaratnam was quite straight forward… I just Googled best knee surgeons in the UK and his named popped up.
 A further check on the National Joint Registry also showed he had the lowest revision rate after knee surgery. Confidence in your surgeon is a prerequisite before any operation and those two factors were a powerful incentive to seek out Sam. Bone on bone loss after tearing my medial ligament and damaging my ACL playing rugby in my 20s had left me as a pensioner with a left knee which bowed out like Robin Hood ’s weapon of choice, while a 10-minute walk left me scanning the horizon for the nearest bench. I could just about cycle, but the first consultant I saw was unsure I would get the necessary 90 degree bend to continue pedalling after a total knee replacement and suggested an off-loading leg brace. It proved more a hindrance than a help, so opting for a second opinion I turned to Google. At our first meeting Sam did not mince his words: “Chris, your knee is totally knackered. You have extensive bone on bone loss, bone spurs, a bowed leg, no anterior cruciate ligament and baker’s cysts. You need a total knee replacement...and your knee will only get worse the longer you put it off. “ But would I get the all-important 90 degree bend after surgery? “Oh, we should be able to do a lot bette than that said Sam. “I would hope for 120 degrees or more.” And skiing? Sam reached for his mobile and showed me a video of someone doing just that, six weeks after a total knee replacement. “It was a bit stupid. He was very sore the next day, but is OK now.” A month later I arrived for surgery at London’s Schoen Clinic, the day after a 70-mile bike ride, hoping it wouldn’t be my last. For more than 15 years Sam has been working with anaesthetist Barry Phillips assembling a team obsessed like cycling guru David Brailsford of the Ineos team with marginal gains to achieve the best possible outcome after knee surgery. Three days after surgery I was discharged. Yes, the knee was sore in the first few weeks but persisting with the recovery exercises and constant icing I was soon walking without crutches. One phrase of Sam’s stuck in my mind: “Don’t bully the knee, take it slowly.” So it was ten weeks after surgery when I went on my first bike ride. Now four months, later I have cycled nearly 2,000 miles and I can go for a walk without looking for the nearest place to sit down. I have a bend of more than 120 degrees and Sam has given me the all-clear to go skiing again. As Sam rather succinctly put it: “You only have one life and my aim to get people back doing what they love as long as they can.”

Recommend

Trust

Listening