SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

FROM THE SIDELINES

perating at The Edinburgh Clinic, the
private day case hospital in Colinton,
Joint Solutions are ahead of the
curve when it comes to diagnosing and treating
muscular, bone, joint or sporting injuries.
Joint Solutions is a medical group that brings
together a range of specialists whose areas of
expertise lend themselves specifically towards
the individualised diagnosis and management of
sports-related injuries.
The group consists of highly experienced
orthopaedic surgeons, specialist sports
physicians, radiologists, and physiotherapists.
This expertise, combined with the exceptional
scanning and operating theatre facilities at The
Edinburgh clinic, provides an incomparable
service for anyone who has an injury.
Speaking to SCRUM, Dr Tim White, a Consultant
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon, one of the
group’s knee specialists and Head of Trauma at
the Royal Infirmary, explained: “We aim to offer a
one-stop shop for the diagnosis and treatment of
whatever problem people might have.
“Often people, when they sustain an injury, aren’t
sure who to approach in the first instance. They
might simply need advice, an explanation and a
guidance on rehabilitation, but they may need
a more detailed sports medicine assessment
of their training regime, or an injection or even
surgery. We are dedicated to ensuring that each
patient is assessed by the right specialist and
receives a management plan that is tailored to
their needs.
“We also believe strongly in working with each
individual in order not only to improve their injury,
but to help prevent future injuries occurring and
allow the safe and fulfilling return to activity/
sport.”
And since forming in 2017, Joint Solutions has
enjoyed great success, and the unique group
now enjoys strong business relationships with
some of Scotland’s most successful sporting
bodies.
“It has been very popular in the last year since
we started,” said Tim. “We have seen a huge

range of patients with a variety of injuries. “We’re

now doing a lot of work within professional

football and other areas of elite sport in Scotland.

We have carried out a wide range of operations

including cartilage and tendon repairs and

ligament reconstructions.

“We also treat a lot of development and

recreational athletes from a wide range of

sports. Not all patients we see participate in

high-level sport, but a considerable number are

looking to stay fit and active. By applying the

unique knowledge of working in elite sport we

can ensure that all patients and athletes that

come through Joint Solutions benefit from a

comprehensive and tailored assessment.”

The team appreciate that surgical management,

although sometimes necessary, can often be

avoided with careful assessment, rehabilitation

and utilisation of less invasive approaches like

joint injections. One of the significant strengths

of the team is the shared care that happens

between specialties to ensure that each patient

receives the expertise required from the Joint

Solutions team as part of their management plan.

“People often don’t need surgery and are

better treated through structured rehabilitation,”

Tim noted. “This is why we have an excellent

specialist sports physician in our group, Dr Carrie

McCrea.

“She works with elite athletes in Swimming,

Rugby, Football, Gymnastics and a range of

other Olympic and Commonwealth sports and is

a specialist in assessing injuries in the context of

training and competition needs and with a strong

focus on non-surgical management.”

Injuries are not always related to the joints or the

muscles, and concussion is a hugely common

injury within Rugby which can be challenging

to manage. The Sports and Exercise medicine

team at Joint Solutions bring with them an

expertise in concussion assessment and

rehabilitation and can offer rapid assessment

and advice.

The group believe strongly in medical innovation

and have sought to include new treatments to

Joint Solutions patients. One such treatment,

which has proved to be very popular according

to Tim, is the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP)

injections for a range of musculoskeletal

complaints.

“It’s a relatively new area of medicine,” the knee

trauma expert revealed.

“Injecting PRP into joints is now a way of treating

inflammatory or painful degenerative arthritis

without having to perform surgery, and it’s

something we’re actively involved in researching

and developing,”

“It’s often an effective way to treat someone

without having to resort to a more intrusive

procedure like surgery, and the uptake on this

has been very good.

“On average, we provide two to three treatments

a week, most commonly to the knee and hip, but

also to the elbow.”

Moving forward, Joint Solutions are looking

to expand their practice to athletes of all

performance levels and to anyone looking to

either return from injury or prevent one from

happening.

Discussing the group’s plans for the future,

Tim said: “We have treated quite a number

of rugby players who have required surgical

management to get them back into playing. We

would be keen to further this work within the

sport and help minimise the impact of injuries for

athletes, allowing them to continue to play the

sport they love”.

For more information: 0131 447 2340

or http://www.edinburghclinic.com

O

JOINT SOLUTIONS

OFFER A ‘ONE-STOP

SHOP’ SOLUTION TO

SPORTING INJURIES

Introducing PRP therapy using the natural healing constituents of your own blood

T&C’s Offer valid until 31 October 2019 by quoting ‘SCRUM’ when booking. No referral is required. For Self-Pay patients only. Any additional tests or treatments

will be charged separately. The Edinburgh Clinic has the right to withdraw or change this offer at any time.

Dr Carrie McCrea-

Routray

Consultant in Sports

& Exercise Medicine

Mr Tim White

Consultant

Orthopaedic

Surgeon

Mr Sam Molyneux

Consultant

Orthopaedic

Surgeon

Dr Stephen

Miller

Sports Physician

Mr John McKinley

Consultant

Orthopaedic

Surgeon

Visit edinburghclinic.com and see our full range of procedures & treatments for sports injuries

40 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5BT

One Stop Orthopaedic Appointment

Consultation and MRI scan from £490

wrist pain shoulder pain knee pain ankle pain

0131 447 2340

Offer valid until 31 October 2019 by

quoting ‘SCRUM’ when booking

120 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019

PRO RUGBY