The Orthopaedic Institute is the registered charity that provides funds for teaching and research based at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt hospital at Oswestry.  The hospital is arguably the leading centre for orthopaedic care in the country.  My attachment with the hospital started in 2005.   

“Fail to prepare – Prepare to fail”

This quote (tattooed on a patients shoulder) was the first thing I remember on starting my orthopaedic training at Oswestry.  Next to the picture was a letter to the trainees along the lines of - work hard, play hard, don’t complain.  This should have alerted me what to expect, particularly with regard to training.  On Friday afternoons a panel of consultants sits at the front of the auditorium with the trainees behind.  The “victim”, a registrar about to sit his exit exams, is stood up the front under the spotlights. Increasing pressure is applied until he gets something wrong.  Rarely the registrar catches the panel out with an obscure orthopaedic fact. These moments are to be treasured – Cant say I had too many!  The rotation has the highest success rate in the national orthopaedic exit exams.  Teaching also takes place every morning and on most evenings.  This is given voluntarily out of working hours. 

We are fortunate at Oswestry to have an Anatomy dissection room.  This is run voluntarily by one of the consultants. The legalities governing an anatomy lab are extremely strict and expensive. However this resource is vital for the training of surgeons and should be supported.  Anatomy is a three dimensional subject that you only grasp when you see how structures relate to each other.  I can think of no other hospital that has its own anatomy lab.

The hospital is very supportive of the military and regularly receives military patients to the spinal injuries unit.  I was fortunate to be the first military trainee to pass through the rotation.  In July I deployed to Afghanistan where my surgical training was put to good use.  The extensive trauma seen in the military environment is not encountered in a civilian setting.  I was particularly grateful of the time I had spent in the anatomy dissection room.

It’s not all hard work at Oswestry.  There’s a yearly show which involves poking fun at the consultants, and singing - of variable quality.  The last production was based on the Rocky Horror Show.  After years of uncomfortable viva practice this was an opportunity to settle old scores.  This provided great entertainment for the staff, patients, friends and relatives.  The money raised went to charity and back to the hospital.

The hospital cricket team, run by one of the spinal surgeons, is open to anyone working at Oswestry.  The pitch is on the hospital grounds and surrounded by trees.  The track plays extremely well, despite the moles; however fielding at long on can be dicey if the archery club is practicing.    

There’s the odd football match too.  The last was the registrars versus the rest of the hospital.  It was a high spirited game (one torn ACL, several concussions and some minor fractures).  It went to penalties with the registrars retaining the trophy of a golden theatre shoe nailed to plank.  This remains over the fireplace in the doctor’s mess.

Training, sport and theatricals aside the majority of time at Oswestry is spent looking after patients with orthopaedic problems requiring surgery or specialist care.  Here are a few of the endeavours, within the hospital, that have received money from the Institute of Orthopaedics

 

The Tumour Unit:

The Tumour unit performs active research in bone tumours, particularly malignant primary bone tumours, metastases and Paget’s disease. It is one of only five designated centres in the Uk. A recent venture with Christies Hospital, Manchester, has seen the creation of the Greater Manchester and Oswestry Sarcoma Service (GMOSS).  This provides a comprehensive service for the treatment of soft tissue and bone tumours and has a catchment area of nine million people.

The Orthotic Research and Locomotor Assessment Unit (ORLAU):

ORLAU has an international reputation for assessing and treating patients with walking problems. The gait laboratory allows patients to be fully assessed and further treatment planned.  This includes ankle foot orthoses, to correct foot deformities, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), to improve the strength of muscles in patients with cerebral palsy, and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), also used for patients with cerebral palsy. 

Spinal Studies:

The Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries (MSCI) provides lifelong service following injury to patients with spinal cord injury. It is one of only ten designated centres within the UK.  Current research is investigating whether stem cells isolated from the bone marrow of patients with spinal injuries, are able to help nerves grow or regenerate.

Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease (CIND):

CIND is one of only four centres of excellence for muscle disease funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.  It is part of an international trial of a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

 

As you see the overall hospital has many elements committed to medical research, to training surgeons in Orthopaedics and Trauma, and to treating patients. Staff members here are closely knit, provide excellent patient care and put in more than just a days work – just the sort of people to make good use of your money.  The Institute of Orthopaedics ensures that all donations remain within the hospital and are used directly for improving the care of patients.

 

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