Mr Nick Howells
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
MBBS, BSc, MSc, FRCS (T&O), MD
I am a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Bristol, specialising exclusively in knee surgery.
I practice at Spire Bristol Hospital and the Avon Orthopaedic Centre. I have an elective practice which focuses exclusively on knee surgery. I am experienced in cartilage, meniscal and ligament injury repair and reconstruction, osteotomy, realignment and stabilisation surgery and the management of early and advanced osteoarthritis including partial and total knee replacement and revision knee replacement.
I grew up and was educated in Shropshire before studying Medicine at Imperial College, London. I undertook basic surgical training in Oxford and at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London. During this time I was a Lecturer in Anatomy at Oxford University and Research Fellow at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. I was awarded a Masters Degree in Surgical Technology by Imperial College for research work focusing on the use of simulators to train orthopaedic surgeons.
My specialist orthopaedic training was on the Bristol rotation and was completed with two years of advanced fellowship training in knee surgery and trauma surgery in Australia. Initially at the internationally renowned Australian Institute of Musculoskeletal Surgery under Leo Pinczewski in Sydney gaining experience in all aspects of knee surgery, including the management of knee injuries in elite athletes. Then at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, one of the busiest major trauma centres in Australia, gaining experience in orthopaedic trauma surgery and knee surgery.
During specialist training I took extra time out to focus on medical research relevant to knee surgery and was awarded a Medical Research Doctorate in Orthopaedic Surgery by the University of Bristol in 2014 for my thesis focusing on reasons for ongoing pain after knee replacement.
I continue to hold the post of Honorary Lecturer with the University of Bristol and I am currently involved in clinical research trials which have attracted several million pounds of National Institute for Health Research Funding. Current areas of work focus on improving outcomes for patients with persistent pain after knee replacement, a role for stem cells in the healing of meniscal injuries of the knee and the safety of novel meniscal implants following meniscectomy. I have published a large number of research papers and present my findings regularly at international conferences. Topics have included: Knee ligament injury and reconstruction, arthroscopy, knee replacement, partial knee replacement, knee osteotomy, patellofemoral instability and meniscal Injuries.
I have a keen interest in teaching and training and I was awarded the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2014 in recognition of my training in medical education. I lecture on a number of national courses, regularly teach medical students, juniors doctors and trainee surgeons and I am the lead for junior doctor training in Orthopaedics at North Bristol NHS Trust.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Mr Nick Howells at Spire include:
Orthopaedics
- Knee arthroscopy surgery
- Knee ligament surgery
- Knee replacement
Orthopaedics - hip and knee
Other treatments
- Knee realignment surgery
Get in touch
Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Bristol Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Knee surgery
Sports injury
Soft tissue injuries
Special clinical interests: Arthroscopy, knee replacement, partial knee replacement, knee osteotomy, knee ligament issues, patellofemoral instability, meniscal Injuries.
Qualification and professional memberships
MBBS / Imperial College, London / 2003
Bachelor of Surgery
BSc / Imperial College, London / 2003
Biomedical Sciences
MSc / Imperial College, London / 2007
Surgical Technology
FRCS (T&O) / Royal College of Surgeons, England / 2012
Orthopaedic Surgery
FEA / Higher Education Academy / 2014
Orthopaedic Surgery
MD / University of Bristol / 2014
Orthopaedic Surgery Research
Professional memberships
Royal College of Surgeons England
British Orthopaedic Association
British Association for Surgery of the Knee
European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy
Current NHS posts
Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, North Bristol NHS Trust.
Contact information
| Website | http://www.kneespecialists.co.uk |
| Private secretary | Kayla Nolan |
| Private secretary telephone | 0117 980 4018 |
| Private secretary email | Kayla.Nolan@spirehealthcare.com |