Nick Savva

23/03/2025

Will a Fusion/Arthrodesis stop me in my tracks? I met a 55 year old patient on Friday who had a triple fusion in his twenties. He was told that he would never be able to do any impact activities again. It was golf for a few years or nothing. I asked him for a précis of his activities from the last few years and this is what I got. “I have completed 17 winter ultra races from 100 miles to 450 miles. Including the Iditasport, Iditarod trail invitational, 6633, Yukon Arctic Ultra, Susitna 100. I have also completed the Everest Marathon and the Jordan Desert Cup (100 miles across the Jordan desert), also I have completed over 60 regular marathons.” Now he is clearly a remarkable individual but a fusion does not mark the end of your active life…….

14/02/2025

Another superb week with Future Health Africa in Kenya. Over 1500 outpatients seen and 70 surgical procedures performed. As usual I learnt so much from the local surgeons and I hope I passed on a few pearls of wisdom. Last year we straightened up the right foot of a patient with severe deformities due to rheumatoid arthritis. Last week we gave her a matching pair. Delighted!

13/02/2025

Another superb week with Future Health Africa in Kenya. Over 1500 outpatients seen and 70 surgical procedures performed. As usual I learnt so much from the local surgeons and I hope I passed on a few pearls of wisdom!

12/02/2025

Don’t forget, if you are thinking about an operation, to consider all of the non surgical options. All foot and ankle pain improves if you can lose a little weight. Pain killers and anti-inflammatories are always worth a try. Look critically at your footwear. Are they supportive? Do they rub? Orthotics can help with most foot problems. Injections can be very effective and long lasting and the risks are minimal.

26/12/2024

17/12/2024

How much does foot surgery cost? Well there is a huge range as you might imagine. Simple procedures like steroid injections or minor ingrowing toe nail procedures cost a few hundred pounds. Intermediate procedures like toe fusions and bunions cost £3000-£6000 depending on how many toes need straightening. At the other end of the spectrum an ankle replacement costs approximately £15000. Have a look at my website where I have just published an article on my website. https://nicksavva.co.uk/how-expensive-are-private-operations/

04/12/2024

What are the best shoes to delay bunion surgery? Well these are excellent. They are leather and so can stretched over lumps and bumps and have open laces at the bottom. Nice wide toe box too. This patient has had successful surgery on the left and is doing a very good job of delaying surgery on the right. The silicon toe spacer really helps too.

28/11/2024

Today I was asked by a patient if they would lose weight after an ankle replacement. I assumed they meant losing weight with more exercise and less pain but I was wrong! What they were actually asking was how much does the ankle replacement weigh compared to the bits of bone and joint removed. I have never been asked that before and so we weighed them. The ankle replacement weighed 110g compared to 20g for the bits of bone removed. A disappointing 90g weight gain. The evidence around weight loss after surgery however is a bit more positive but not clear cut. The take home message is that the best reason to have a joint replacement is to reduce pain and improve function.

26/11/2024

Just spent a very pleasant hour or so grilling Drs Kachita, Kachione, Nkunika & Jaiteh for their Ortho exam on Monday. Good luck guys!

25/11/2024

Where do I work?

Dorset County Hospital

I work have been an NHS Consultant at Dorset County Hospital since 2006. We have an excellent Orthopaedic Service performing elective surgery as well as trauma (broken bones). The hospital serves a huge population over a very wide area stretching from Bridport to Yeovil, Sherborne, Blandford, Wareham, Poole and we even get a smattering of patients from Bournemouth and the New Forest. We have a day case theatre in Weymouth and of course see plenty of patients from Weymouth and Portland.

We have 2 dedicated Orthopaedic theatres and outpatient facilities in the hospital as well as at South walks House in town.

I also have a complex patient clinic in Bournemouth, with colleagues from around Dorset where we discuss patients with difficult problems.

To see me at “DCH” you need to be referred by your GP through the musculoskeletal service. The waiting times are currently very long but we are working on reducing them.

Winterbourne Hospital

I work privately at the Winterbourne Hospital performing the same array of elective and trauma procedures. The Winterbourne is an excellent facility run by the Circle Health Group. It has a very similar catchment area as DCH.

Although it is small it has an enormous throughput of patients and there is no waiting list. And you can park easily! There are 2 elective theatres that were designed for Orthopaedic procedures and the standards of care are exceptional. All the rooms on the ward are single with en-suite bathrooms and the food is excellent.

Radiographs (X-Rays) and MRI scans are also performed at the Winterbourne.

Fortius Clinic

I also work in London at the Fortius Clinic. Again, this is an exceptional facility with very high standards. I usually see patients at the clinic in Fitzhardinge street and see a mixture of patients who have sports injuries, arthritis and I also do some medicolegal work too.