Professor Damian Griffin OBE TD VR BM BCh MA MPhil FRCS(Tr&Orth)

Written by a private patient at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital

After a life time of intensive martial arts & boxing training and all the associated cardio & strength training, back in 2018 I started to develop stiffness in my right hip. Initial X-ray by the NHS revealed the onset of osteoarthritis but the symptoms were deemed mild and not recommended at that point for hip surgery but would likely be needed in future. I was in no rush as the symptoms were manageable and I'd also known a couple of people who had issues after a hip replacement so I did have concerns about having the operation. Sure enough by 2022 my hip had got significantly worst and I probably should have acted sooner. By chance the previous year I'd read an article about Irish International rugby player Sean O'Brien having a hip resurface carried out by Professor Damian Griffin and he'd been the first rugby player to return to the professional game after which is quite phenomenal really. After more research I realised Damian was one of the world's leading surgeons with everything concerning hips. Luckily I managed to get a consultation with Damian and he was extremely thorough in getting new X-Rays and MRI scans to understand the problem fully. We went thru the scenarios of hip resurface v full hip replacement and pros' and cons of each which was very well explained and totally understandable. The severe extent of the damage to my hip and also I'm in my 50s now, the full hip replacement was the best choice for me. Also as I'd not had major surgery before he recommended I had a full check of my vascular system which was very reassuring. He completely set my mind at rest for the whole experience. The surgery itself was carried out by Damian and his very experienced team at St John's & St Elizabeth in North London, which is a very nice hospital with excellent staff. Damian put my mind at rest on the day and I was n't nervous at all. After the operation I was on my feet within an hour of waking and able to walk with crutches the next day before leaving the hospital the following day. The pain had gone completely from my hip joint, just the surgical entry point being sore as expected. To be honest the rehab has gone like clockwork and I've been careful to follow Damian's advice of not being in too much of a rush. I used crutches up to about 2 weeks and Nordic ski poles for a further 2 weeks, but after that able to walk without assistance. 10 weeks on no one would know I'd had surgery. I had a lot of soft tissue damage as well and the physio on Damian's advice has done a sterling job in loosening my hip and I've been following a routine of walking, static bike and a range of strengthening exercises on my legs. Damian also recommended getting an ice machine to help with recovery, which I have used since day 1 and still using now after exercise. I thoroughly recommend investing or hiring one. I feel like I have my life back and feel 10 years younger now. I intend to get back to most activities although will just stick to my boxing from now on! I would say you will not find a better hip surgeon in the world than Damian. His mastery and expertise of the operation itself and the follow up care from him with numerous consultations already is amazing. Aside from that he's also an extremely nice man and probably the calmest person I've ever met, which is a fantastic attribute for a surgeon!!

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Written by a private patient at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital

I live in Kenya and after being diagonosed with osteoarthritis in my hip in 2019 received a recommendation for Prof. Griffin from a previous patient. I am middle-aged and athletic and was told Prof Griffin's quality of treatment would enable me to get back to a fully athletic lifestyle. Covid travel restrictions delayed my surgeory but during this time I had several consultations and scans and eventually opted for hip resurfacing as my condition had progressed to the point where arthroscopic treatment would likely not be fully effective. I had the surgery in London is May 2023 and spent 2 months in the UK before traveling back to Kenya, to minimize the post-op clotting risk. Throughout the process I had great faith in Prof. Griffin. During pre-op consultations he provided clear explanations as to the details of the diagnosis, his recommendations and the reasons for the recommendations, so that I was completely confident that the selected intervention was the right one. He projects a calm and confident manner and is focused on every little detail of providing quality care from the type of stitching and dressing used to any advantage he can obtain from new equipment or facilities available at the hospital he uses (and he is clearly selective of the hospitals he uses). He put my wife (who was accompanying me and has no other connections with the UK) completely at ease, explaining the surgey and telling her not to worry if the operation seemed to be going longer than expected as it would just mean he was taking his time. He also has a team that he has worked with for a couple of decades and meeting them immediate pre-op it was clear they had a finely tuned operation. I was therefore relatively relaxed even in the anaesthesia room. The post-op recovery was smooth and painless and went exactly as it had been explained to me by Prof. Griffin: 2 weeks of tiredness and wooziness which ended with the last dose of oxycontin, followed by another 4 of daily icing and physio exercises whilst using crutches. During the latter 4 weeks I was able to continue full time studies. My travel back to Kenya was easy and uneventful. At the 3 month point I am able to walk normally and the muscles around the hip are getting back to normal strength and range of motion and are able to tolerate aggressive physiotherapy strengthening exercises. I worked with a physiotherapist, James Neal, that also has a long working relationship with Prof Griffin and knew how to match the physio to his surgical approach. Overall, the disruption to my life of a major operation overseas (I am British but emigrated decades ago) was minimized by my confidence in Prof Griffin, clear and accurate expectations of the operation and post-op recovery and the quality of his work. There was no significant post-op pain, recovery went smoothly and I was able to plan to utilize the recovery period with appropriate levels of work activity.

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Written by a private patient at Three Shires Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

Damian Griffin has given me my life back - after he provided me with a new hip, 10 weeks on and I was back on my bike. I am now back to all my previous sporting activity. At every stage his communication was clear, he is calm and measured and I felt listened to throughout. Brilliant!

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Written by a private patient at The Harley Street Specialist Hospital

I am so incredibly grateful that I found Professor Griffin. He was the second consultant that I spoke to when I began struggling with my left hip. I had severe FAI symptoms on the left and was struggling to tie my left shoe and walk for more than about 20 mins. It was painful and I was slightly in denial as I am an exercise junkie and love all sport! I am in my early 50s and did not want to slow down my sporty lifestyle. The first consultant, in one sweeping statement, informed me that I would need a double hip replacement. He would not say when, only that it was definitely on the cards. He suggested steroid injections first which I did with him and which provided limited relief. He then booked me in for a hip arthroscopy procedure. At this point, I looked for a second opinion and thankfully found Professor Griffin. I initially met him over Zoom and then in person. His calm, measured and informative approach was so refreshing. He talked me through my scans in great detail, was happy to answer any questions and was very clear about my prognosis. My left hip has a slightly shallow socket and a labral tear. He carefully examined my range of movement and balance control. I had been working very hard with a physio and trainer between my two meetings with Professor Griffin and my pain had reduced considerably at this point. He explained exactly why the hip strengthening was working to alleviate my pain and that, given how my body was now supporting itself successfully, I would not be looking at any surgery for now. I asked if I would eventually need a hip replacement. Professor Griffin said that my shallow socket did make a hip replacement more likely than for the average person but not necessarily so if I continued training my body well. Professor Griffin is everything you wish for in a consultant. He is thoughtful, non alarmist, informative and kind. Surgery is a huge step and he makes you feel like he has your best interest at heart. I am grateful to be his patient and will not hesitate to consult him again if my symptoms change.

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Written by a private patient at Three Shires Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

I am a 63 year old very active lady. My sports include cable wakeboarding, indoor climbing, wing foiling and road cycling. Last summer I noticed an increasing amount of pain in my left hip. My physiotherapist, Luke Anthony, at GoPerform ( A training and sports rehabilitation centre in Reading, Berkshire)) gave me a number of exercises to try and alleviate the hip, but the pain became more acute. Luke recommended and referred me to Professor Griffin for further investigation. The initial consultation with Professor Griffin was exceptionally thorough and Professor Griffin spent a great deal of time making sure that he understood the problem that I had and how this was affecting my sports. Following x-rays a diagnosis of osteoarthritis was made and Professor Griffin recommended a total hip replacement. We decided that this was the best option as I wanted to return to all my sports. We also decided that the surgery would take place in early 2023 as I had a couple of holidays planned! In the intervening period it also gave the opportunity to undertake as much "pre -hab" as possible to retain strength and mobility in the hip. The surgery itself went extremely well. Professor Griffin and the anaesthetist explained exactly what to expect and there was 100% pain control. A few hours after surgery the physiotherapist helped me get out of bed and take a few steps. Furthermore, by the following morning I was waking with crutches along the corridor of the hospital! I was at the Three Shires Hospital, which was 1.5 hours away from my home so I chose to stay in for a second night, the care in the hospital was excellent. Once home, I needed the crutches for a couple of days, but by day 5 I had progressed onto hiking poles. I also hired a "Game Ready" recovery ice machine that cooled the surgery area and helped keep any swelling under control. By day 8 I was able to walk over 1km with the hiking poles and I began physiotherapy with Luke at GoPerform. The preparation prior to surgery certainly helped, along with the Superb surgery from Professor Griffin. On day 12 I had a video call with Professor Griffin and I was able to remove the dressing, his call was very helpful and I was very impressed with the neatness of the scar! It is now day 18 and I am attending rehabilitation daily at GoPerform along with a 2 km walk. I must say that I am delighted with the overall experience so far and I look forward to progressing over the coming weeks. Professor Griffin and his Team are outstanding !

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