Mr Gorav Datta

Specialist in the treatment of hip and knee conditions, from minor injuries to major joint replacement surgery.

INNOVATION AND GREAT CARE LEADS TO SUCCESSFUL RESULTS

I believe there are four elements that are essential to producing the best doctors; education, training, experience, and innovation. A good education is essential in providing the foundation for the other elements. Training varies enormously both within the UK, and around the world; working in the best centres has a profound impact on one’s ability to give patients the best possible treatment. Experience is self-explanatory; the best doctors are the ones that have treated large numbers of patients (anyone that reads ‘Outliers’ or the ‘Talent Code’ will understand the 10,000 hours it takes to achieve mastery in anything). This is especially so in surgery.

Innovation is not just about embracing new technologies; those who innovate usually have a solid research background and apply an outcome driven approach to developing new technologies. I also believe in developing a two-way relationship with each patient so that treatments can be tailored personally to their needs taking their own views into account.

EDUCATION

I was educated at St Paul’s School in London and read Medicine at University College London. Both are centres of excellence and gave me the solid foundation to pursue a career in Orthopaedic Surgery. All my specialist orthopaedic training was undertaken in London, working in four University teaching hospitals during this time where a broad experience in orthopaedic surgery was gained. Working in specialist centres treating patients referred in from other orthopaedic units with complex orthopaedic problems gave me additional specialist training. Two years of training was spent at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore; here I gained experience in specialist hip and knee surgery, as well as orthopaedic cancer surgery. I also undertook a year at St George’s Hospital where I gained experience in pelvic
reconstructive surgery.

EXPERIENCE

I have specialised in hip, knee and pelvic reconstructive surgery. I perform all forms of hip and knee surgery ranging from keyhole surgery in the hip and knee, to joint replacement surgery, and re-do joint replacement surgery (revision surgery). I am a member of an International training faculty that trains surgeons from all over the world in the difficult technique of hip keyhole surgery (hip arthroscopy) and specialise in cartilage regeneration techniques in the hip and knee. I perform a high number of joint replacements each year and only use implants that have a proven track record. I also perform pelvic reconstructive surgery and receive a number of referrals from other hospitals in this complex area of surgery. In my NHS practice (University Hospital Southampton), I also treat patients will bone cancers that have spread from other organs. My private practice is based in Hampshire and London.

INNOVATION

I have a strong research background and undertook my Doctorate of Medicine research degree at Imperial College London. I have completed a number of clinical trials, acting as the Principle Investigator in 6 trials in the NHS. I have a particular interest in cartilage regeneration and have undertaken 2 trials testing new technologies in this area; treating cartilage defects in the knee using stem cells, and injections for knee arthritis using growth factors derived from the patient. I am performing further research in this area. My own philosophy is to preserve the hip or knee joint where possible. Although joint replacements function very well, nothing is as good as the joint that Nature has created. Understanding a patient’s needs and applying the best treatment modalities to these needs is crucial in obtaining the best possible outcome for each patient.