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

Written by a private patient at University Hospital Coventry

I first noticed a dull ache in my left hip around 5 years ago. After a number of physio visits and no real improvement I went for a X-ray at the local hospital. The orthopedic surgeon reviewed my x-rays and said I had Osteoarthritis and he could “chop my hip off and put a new one on” Being in my early forties it was a big shock. Relaying the diagnosis to my physio he suggested I go see the Prof. On my First visit to see the professor I had a scan and MRI which confirmed my hip was deteriorated to point it had no cartilage and I had only two options , THR or Hip Resurfacing. Damian talked me through the pros and cons of each and said when your ready come back as at the time I could manage the pain and do most of the things I wanted to do. Over the years the pain increased and I think what finally gave me the push to get my hip fixed was watching the Andy Murray documentary Resurfacing and I thought why am I putting up with this lets get it sorted. So I got booked in for my Hip resurfacing operation October 2020. I decided on Hip re-surfacing as I think it’s a good option for “Younger” men allowing a return to a physical life style and reading a number of articles around sports men who returned to high levels of activity post re-surfacing. I was also keen on bone preservation and if I needed a THR as I got older due to wear of the resurface implant I still had the option. Damian spoke with me pre-op and put me at ease in his usual calm manner. The operation was a total success and I spent the next five nights in hospital wearing ice shorts to reduce the swelling. The first couple of days are tough getting out of bed was physically challenging and getting the hip moving in Physio was not easy but I knew it was just short term discomfort. On discharge I had to spend the next 6 weeks on crutches until the bone had healed sufficiency to allow full weight bearing. During the first 6 weeks I was doing low level physio which stepped up after I got the ok for full weigh bearing. From my experience doing the physio is as important as the surgery indeed Damian talks about team work between himself and physio James. The Physio got the strength back in my leg and I did it everyday and still do , make time for physio , do the Physio , do the Physio you will benefit massively from it. Not long after getting the ok for full weight bearing on no restrictions I was back out on my mountain bike it felt great to be pedaling with no pain and two working legs. My general life is much improved ,sleeping , exercising and walking the dog all pain free. From my very first meeting with Damian he answered all my questions and filled me will complete confidence he could carry out the operation with the successful outcome I wanted , he delivered that and my leg continues to get stronger.

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Written by a patient at University Hospital Coventry

I first met professor Griffin in February at BMI Meriden. I had been recommended to him with regards to severe stiffness in my back and hip, plus pain in my groin area. Professor Griffin explained clearly and calmly the issues with my hip and how it would be best solved by a full hip replacement. Due to delays caused by Covid 19 I eventually had my hip surgery on Monday 6th July. Everything that was going to happen during the surgery was explained to me by Professor Griffin and the anaesthetist. The operation was around lunchtime and by mid afternoon I was back in my room. I was well cared for with an electronic Ice wrap and painkillers, which meant I had a relatively comfortable first night. Professor Griffin came into tell me everything had gone well despite my hip being in a quite worn state. I was into the gym the next day on an exercise bike and also did some aerobic movements and by the next day after another good nights sleep, I did 2 sessions in the gym and was able to walk up and down stairs, with the aid of my crutches. On the day of discharge, I saw Professor Griffin again, who again took time to answer my questions and then on that Thursday lunchtime I was discharged. Whilst there is obvious discomfort from the operation, I was amazed to find how well I could move and how well the pain was suppressed in hospital. I was given clear instructions on what I could/couldn't do and Professor Griffin also recommended an online Physio site for my out of hospital follow ups and physio. All in all, I could not say how the operation and care for me could have gone any better.

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Written by a patient at University Hospital Coventry

I had surgery on my left hip last year, to repair my torn labrum and smooth off the bone so it glides normally. I have recovered 100% and have been able to return to all gym activities that I enjoy. I was very happy with the way he looked after me throughout my surgery from pre op to post op. I would recommend Damian to anyone who is looking to get back to the activities they enjoy and to live a normal life. Thank you again so much. Chris Maclean

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Written by a patient at University Hospital Coventry

I came to Damien with a hip problem in the hope of being able to undertake a resurfacing operation. Damien was very friendly and I had huge confidence in him particularly after the first time we met, the first thing he said was that it is possible for him to do the resurfacing operation for me. Every appointment with Damien was very good, he never rushed anything, covered all points of discussion and always answered my questions in depth. After my first appointment he arranged me to have a CT scan 2 hours later which I found very impressive and the kind of quick attention hip problems need as they can effect your life hugely. Damien was also very meticulous in that he would take however long it takes to make sure I got the right treatment I needed. For example, he was the only doctor Ive ever seen who thought an arthroscopy to look inside was essential so we took the right option, this really gave me confidence in him and I agreed with the steps he was taking. Moreover to Damien has excellent people skills and my treatment was very organised from start to finish, Damien is an excellent surgeon and offers a surgical option of accessing the hip through the bone rather than the muscle (muscle takes longer to heal). He is the only doctor who does this I believe. Another thing I just found different and good about Damien was that he asked me to make a list of questions and send them to him so he can look them over before, therefore I left with no doubts. I am now 10 days post-op and I have had limited pain, I believe this to be down to Damien surgical skills. Treatment under Damien is high quality and I felt like I was an athlete rather than a patient as Damien has great physio's to work with along with the recommendation of a game ready ice machine too for example. I would highly recommend Damien to anyone particularly young people with hip problems looking to get back to sport. He is the only doctor who has the confidence in me to get back to football, he has given me the tools its now up to me which I love. I have only just started my recovery but I believe Damien's high expertise and skills are going to make my rehabilitation much easier down the line. I was given truly great care throughout and it felt on a personal level which was nice, I do not have any criticisms.

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Written by a patient at University Hospital Coventry

I would recommend anyone experiencing hip pain to go to Professor Griffin as soon as possible. He’s a world leader in hip surgery and his passion is hip preservation, offering the best options available to get you back to unrestricted activity. His approach and manner leaves no doubt that you are in the best hands and the level of care you will receive is second to none. I began to suffer with hip pain in my early thirties; stiffness and discomfort in both hip joints and a sharp stabbing pain in my right hip on certain movements. For the following 15 years each time I visited my GP he said it was “probably arthritis”. I had great range of movement and he could not replicate the sharp pain when maneuvering my leg so he just kept offering pain relief, which I was loath to take. I tried my best to stay fit and active, working through the pain but eventually it became life limiting - a constant dull pain along with a sharp stabbing pain whenever I walked down stairs or twisted. I finally insisted on an x-ray, which came back confirming that there was no arthritis, but offered no explanation for the pain. I asked for a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon who immediately diagnosed dysplasia. He explained that I might benefit from an arthroscopy but he didn’t perform them so referred me on to Professor Griffin, explaining that his techniques offered the best chance of preserving my natural hip for as long as possible. My first meeting with Prof Griffin was such a relief! His calm and reassuring manner filled me with hope and confidence that I would finally get the treatment I had needed for so long. After a scan and initial investigations, we decided on an arthroscopy so that he could repair the damage to the labrum and buy me some time before needing invasive treatment. In all the discussions we had, he reassured me and encouraged me to just take one step at a time, see the outcome and then discuss further options if and when we needed to. The keyhole procedure was straightforward, I was in the hospital gym within hours of the operation and I recovered very quickly. Months of physio followed and a return to Pilates, swimming and cycling but sadly the pain returned. Prof Griffin then discussed the further options with me – a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) or Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement. I opted for the THR after considering the long recovery time of a PAO and the likelihood of needing a THR years later anyway due to the condition of my hip. It was so wonderful to actually have a choice though! Also to know that I would be in the best hands, with a minimally invasive procedure that would enable swift recovery with no limitations. A few months later I had a THR on my right hip and the outcome was exactly as expected: swift recovery, no limitations and at long last, no pain. My family and friends were astounded at the improvement and pretty soon we all forgot that I had even had a replacement. Four years later I started to get the same sharp pains in the other hip and I knew it had also deteriorated in spite of being not quite as shallow as the right hip had been. I waited until it started to become life limiting and then went back to see Prof Griffin - there was no hesitation in my mind that he was the only surgeon I would want to operate on the other hip. After initial investigations, we decided to go straight to the THR and a few weeks ago, I underwent surgery. Over recent years, the Prof has slightly adjusted the angle of the incision for a ‘gentler’ approach. This time there was less bruising and I feel that I have got my range of movement back slightly sooner than last time. I left hospital after three days and was off pain relief after about 10 days post op. At my two-week follow up appointment, the tape came off the wound to reveal a perfect thin line and I was able to come off crutches. After three weeks I still have a little bit of swelling and discomfort in the soft tissue as it heals but it improves every day. The other aspect of Prof Griffin’s care is the Physiotherapy. In hospital the team working with Prof Griffin are excellent and they provide reports and information for your own Physiotherapist. Prof Griffin also wrote to my Physio to make contact and offer support should she have any queries. She was very impressed at how mobile I was just days after the op and with the lack of restrictions in movement. No doubt she will also be referring future patients to Prof Griffin!

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