Practice reopening
As lockdown restrictions ease off, we are able to welcome new and follow up patients again.
July 2020

Healthcare has been going through an extraordinary transformation over the last few months. The transition from core life-saving services to gradual reopening posed major challenges for the complex hospital establishment and its staff.
Guidelines and restrictions have been overwhelming, often daunting, but few have led to changes that are likely to stay and should be welcomed.
As hospitals, NHS and private, are slowly re-opening, staff testing, temperature checks, sanitisation, face masks, strict infection control measures are becoming our new daily routine. Hospitals are designating Covid-free areas whilst all patients awaiting elective surgery have to be tested and self-isolate prior to their operations. Such strict measures slow things down but are necessary in order to reopen services as safely as possible. Patients with elective, non-life threatening conditions can be treated again, but for those requiring general anesthetic, indications should be carefully gauged to minimise risks.
My practice is currently offering weekly virtual and face to face consultations and treatment for skin lesion and hand and wrist problems. I expect restrictions pertinent to cosmetic surgery to be eased off soon too, but consultations allowing adequate preparation and planning are encouraged. Patients anticipating surgery should take into account longer than usual waiting time because of mandatory pre-operative self-isolation periods (between 7-14 days).
RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Joint replacement surgery for thumb arthritis – practice modifications
Our department recently commenced a prospective audit on use of two component carpo-metacarpal prosthesis, in management of thumb basal joint arthrosis. Thumb osteoarthritis is a common condition and many patients are in need of surgical input in order to alleviate disability. Immediate and 6 months post surgery results presented below, are encouraging, but monitoring continues.
New modified rehabilitation regime for internally fixed metacarpal fractures
Metacarpal fractures account for 40% of all hand injuries and up to 44% of all hand fractures. While we are still collecting and processed data, preliminary results are suggesting that splint is neither needed, nor beneficial for patients who have undergone uncomplicated, rigid, internal fixation of metacarpal fractures.
Ten year study on use of special implants for thumb arthritis published in JHS
In my practice, interposition arthroplasty using pyrocarbon implants still represents a useful and reliable treatment option in the surgical treatment of early thumb basal joint arthritis.
Advances in Hand Surgery 2021
I was delighted to participate in Advances in Hand Surgery Course which connected virtually so many surgeons, trainees and therapists over the last 3 days.
Contact
All enquiries are handled
by the Practice Manager:
Rachel Gould
Tel: +44 (0) 845 026 7776
Email: contact@sonjacerovac.com
Correspondence address:
Miss Sonja Cerovac
Ashtead Hospital
The Warren
Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2SB