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

Professor Damian Griffin OBE TD VR BM BCh MA MPhil FRCS(Tr&Orth) 2020-01-15 Person 5 5 0

Professor Griffin (PG) has performed 2 PAO's and 3 Hip Arthroscopies in total across my left and right hip. PG's care and skill is outstanding and throughout my treatment he has considered my needs as a patient but as a person as well. I cannot thank him enough from me and my family. The background: I have hip dysplasia which means I have shallow hip sockets. For various reasons I had a long and frustrating journey to the point of diagnosis as my age at the time (32) did not fit into any neat medical box. My journey eventually led me to PG and for that I will always be grateful. Several tests and a consultation later I had a diagnosis and a treatment plan. I walked away emotional, utterly relieved and feeling a sense of justice because the pain and discomfort were real and had a title. I also had a treatment plan that could help. The hip arthroscopies were in 2012, 2016 and 2019 and were to assess both hips separately and make repairs where possible. They were also to determine if my hips would benefit from the PAO procedure that would move my hip bone around and pin them in place so I could walk on a healthier part of the hip. The arthroscopies in themselves were carried out brilliantly by PG and his team. In my case I have had PAO's on both hips. I had the left hip done in 2013 and I am just recovering from the PAO done on my right hip in Nov 2019. The PAO's - a PAO is major surgery and is therefore a tough operation to recover from. However, it is worth it in my opinion because the hips have felt a lot better since having the procedure. PG is excellent at his trade and his expertise and the team he has around him shine at every stage. The care given is reassuring, comforting and allows you to focus on your part in the process - getting rest but balancing it with getting up and about too. I was out of bed the day after the operation; I didn't get far but it was out of bed nonetheless which is pretty impressive the day after a big operation. The first few days are not easy but it's amazing how quickly you can see the step by step improvements happening each day. By the time I left hospital (day 5) I was getting around my room and was able to go for a little walk around the ward. Another area where PG excels is building a treatment plan around life; because this doesn't stop just because hip problems are in the mix. The nature of a lot of PG's patients mean they are in their 20's/30's and for me it was fitting 5 operations between getting married, having two children and working. I had my 2 children between the first PAO and the second and they did not impact the pregnancies or the births. PG's approach meant that life could carry on with treatment built in between - not easy but we have got there! I could write a lot more but I am going to close my review before I start writing an essay, The summary is, I have always completely trusted PG's professional skill and have felt very safe in both his hands and the hands of the team he has around him. I want to thank PG and the wider team from the bottom of my heart because you have helped to create a healthier nearly 40 year old. It is now over to me to maintain.