Mr Sean Molloy

Mr Sean Molloy 2024-01-14 Person 5 5 0

The facts were stacked up against me: * I had early but unmistakable signs of cauda equina syndrome, my case was urgent, without intervention I faced life in a wheelchair with no control of bladder and bowels. Only a year earlier I had been super fit, sailing, skiing, woodworking etc. * Depending on whether you count from the microdiscectomy of 2000 or the lumbar fusion of 2014, I needed a quaternary or tertiary revision to what was (by then) an L2-S1 fusion, to extend the fusion to include L1-2. * Quite apart from the risks of back surgery in any case, and the fact that outcomes statistically worsen with every revision, L1-2 poses special problems of access etc, * At age 60, I am 10y in to Parkinsons Disease, and, although I have kept active on the advice of neurologists as one of the best forms of long-term management, there are no two ways about it, lumbar fusion is not recommended for Parkinson's. * After 25h in UCLH A+E, a very ugly looking scan, and a multi-disciplinary case conference, I had been sent home. Although the reasons were not well conveyed to me, I believe they felt the risks of operating were too high. * The surgeon who did the previous revision declined further involvement. He is a hugely well-respected lumbar spinal surgeon with numerous uniformly excellent reviews on this site. Since it seemed that no UK surgeon would take me on, we contacted surgeons abroad, with a particular focus on experts on endoscopic disc surgery, a technique that has a wide and successful following in Germany (and I believe Korea). I was prepared to pay for the procedure and for med-evac, but again we were declined, with some citing the risks of med-evac as too great and others citing the involvement of the ligamentum flavum with the disc herniation as an issue. It was at this stage, 3d after diagnosis, that I engaged Mr Molloy, as, as far as I could tell, the only surgeon of repute willing to take me on. He cancelled vacation plans and operated on me as an urgent case a further 3d later. By then I had the first symptoms of full-on cauda equina syndrome, but surgery was early enough for me to fully recover. After a two stage procedure I was walking pretty normally---and pain-free---within a day of returning to the ward. My total stay in hospital was 2w and by the time I left I was fully functioning, walking and negotiating stairs unaided apart from the moulded thermoplastic brace he required me to wear. It was the opinion of numerous doctors who saw me whilst in hospital that all the surgeons who had turned me down had done me a favour by pushing me towards the only surgeon competent for this level of difficulty. I am writing following my 6m follow-up with Mr Molloy: it transpires that the fusion is already complete and no further follow-up is necessary, and I that I can therefore remove the brace. I am now pain-free, and able to walk 5km+. THis for me is an unprecedented speed of recovery, and to have such a fast recovery after such an unpromising start seems to me totally extraordinary. Apart from his consummate skill as a surgeon, Mr Molloy is also a lovely kind man, a patient history taker, and well able to adapt his explanations to the technical level of the patient.

Mr Sean Molloy 2021-01-28 Person 5 5 0

I had several appointments with Mr Sean Molloy throughout my childhood as he diagnosed me with atypical Scheuermann’s disease and subsequently treated it. I cannot recommend Sean enough. Not only is his knowledge second to none, but he’s extremely personable, respectful and attentive. If you’re after a trustworthy specialist that finds solutions in a manner that fills you with confidence, then I would look no further. He is always willing to go above and beyond and has painlessly sorted all of my back-related issues.

Mr Sean Molloy 2020-01-24 Person 5 5 0

Mr Sean Molloy is absolutely the best. He performed a very complicated operation on my husband, after the previous surgeries carried out by other surgeons were unsuccessful. Mr Molloy gave us respect, and security that he knows exactly what he is talking about. A real gentleman, plus a terrific "carpenter" as he says! It so unusual to find qualities of decency and brilliance in one package, and he has it all. He also looks after me, and the above remarks apply to myself also. His anaesthetist, Dr Jan Cernovsky is one of the best doctor in his field. I have very difficult veins, and he is the only person who can insert the cannular without giving me intense pain. I have utmost trust in him, and it is a pity we cannot clone him, so that he could attend many other patients. A super man. I am not a person who is easily pleased, so this review is very unusual for me.

Mr Sean Molloy 2015-02-03 Person 5 5 0

Sean Molloy is a miracle worker. So patient, caring and dedicated to his work. He has amazing interpersonal skills and really understood my needs. His dedication to his work is beyond compare and you can tell that he really loves what he does being able to fix people. He was able to diagnose and treat my spinal issues where previous consultants had failed. His in depth knowledge and ability to translate that into lay men's terms really helped me understand and make good decisions.