Welcome to the website of Mr David Sweetnam, Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon, offering highly specialised treatment for sports injury and the full range of knee problems.
As a specialist in the diagnosis and management of orthopaedic knee conditions, my
primary objective is
to ensure that you receive the appropriate treatment to get you back on your feet as quickly as
possible.
Many of my patients are professional sports people and athletes competing at national and international
level. Others, who lead busy lives in the world of finance, the media, politics and the arts, enjoy
active
leisure pursuits. Like you, their schedules are full and their time is precious. That’s why, within a
week
of your initial consultation, my priority will be to arrive at a full diagnosis of your condition and
outline
a working plan for your treatment.
In my experience, at least 85% of all patients with knee conditions will not require surgery. By
investing
time with you at the outset and using the most appropriate diagnostic routes, I look for solutions where
surgery
is the last resort. Where surgery is unavoidable, such as with a torn cartilage or ruptured cruciate
ligament,
minimally invasive techniques developed over the last 15 years will be used.
Meniscal injuries are one of the
commonest problems that I see as an orthopaedic
surgeon specialising in knee injuries/problems. The meniscus is perhaps more commonly referred to as the
knee ‘cartilage’.We have all heard of professional sportsmen and women sustaining ‘cartilage injuries’,
so
it may come as a surprise to know that the majority of my patients tear their cartilage undertaking
relatively
common day-to-day activities.
For this reason, it often doesn’t occur to the patient or their family doctor that they may have torn a
cartilage.
A significant twisting injury sustained whilst playing football or skiing may result in a tear but the
day to day
action of getting up from sitting on the floor can produce the same result, especially in the older age
group. In
orthopaedic terms, the phrase “older age group” sadly refers to patients over 30! After this age, the
cartilage has
already started to turn from a very resilient, tough construct to a more brittle one. It is for this
reason that a
simple twisting injury can cause a small split within the cartilage.
The role of the Physiotherapist in rehab is a pivotal one. The therapists’
relationship with both the patient and the Consultant is paramount in the smooth recovery following
any type of intervention from injection to post surgical follow up.
The Physiotherapist must be fully versed in the protocols of the surgeon and feel completely confident
to request a review if they feel the patient is not making adequate progress. It is not always evident
to the patient if there is an issue which needs to be discussed between the Consultant and his team.
A clear and concise format of exercises must be provided to the patient of what they are required to
do in their own time at home. Common sense must prevail with return to work, driving and use of
equipment
in the gym environment etc. It is not advisable to follow the advice of anyone other than the Consultant
and his Physiotherapist.
Attendance for Physiotherapy does vary according to the procedure being carried out but the
Physiotherapist
will be able to give you clear advice on the number and frequency of post operative appointments. This
figure does vary with the individual case.
For more details about appointments and fees, please contact my secretary Laura Stockford:
sweetnam.sec@schoen-clinic.co.uk
0203 929 1045
You can book an appointment with Mr Sweetnam at the following hospitals:
Schoen Clinic London
66 Wigmore Street
London
W1U 2SB
