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Tributes paid to nationally renowned knee surgeon Andrew Sprowson

Tributes have been paid to one of the country’s top knee surgeons who tragically died in a road accident on Friday (March 13).

Andrew Sprowson was a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the University Hospital in Coventry, and an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Warwick Medical School. He had a special interest in hip and knee replacement and a particular expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with infections around previous knee replacements.

The 40 year old from Kenilworth was jointly appointed at the University of Warwick and the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) in April 2012, having completed his orthopaedic training in Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Australia. He immediately began to establish himself as a clinician and researcher, developing and implementing new techniques in hip and knee replacement. Andy looked after patients in Coventry and Rugby, but his special expertise meant that many patients came to see him from much further afield.

Andy worked with a very wide group across the University and Hospital, from his clinical colleagues, to engineers and microbiologists, to methodologists and statisticians in the Medical School’s Clinical Trials Unit. His current research was exploring how to diagnose infection, and testing new ways to control pain during hip and knee replacement. He inspired and taught young doctors and researchers alike, and helped to lead the Masters course in orthopaedic surgery. Andy was well known across the country: he was regularly a speaker at national and international meetings, and had been selected to travel around the world as a talented orthopaedic leader to represent the British Orthopaedic Research Society.

Andy was travelling to a meeting to represent the hospital when he died. His colleague and Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Damian Griffin said, “He was on his way to Glasgow to learn about an innovative way to organise clinics, and bring those ideas back to UHCW. This was typical of his determination to make orthopaedic surgery in UHCW and at Warwick as good as it could possibly be. Everyone uses the term 'larger than life' to describe Andy. He was an exceptionally enthusiastic, bubbly character, who loved to work hard and make new and exciting things happen. We will miss him terribly.”

Martin Underwood Director of Warwick Medical School, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), said: “Many of us are in shock and deeply upset about Andy’s death. He was a very valued colleague who I very much enjoyed working with; he will be missed by everyone in CTU, particularly by those who he worked with closely. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.”

Sudhesh Kumar, Dean of Medicine said, “Andy’s sudden death is a devastating loss to the both Warwick Medical School and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. His hard work and determination made a great impact on both organisations, colleagues and patients. He will be sorely missed by all those that knew and worked with him.”

Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of UHCW, said: “Many of us are in shock and deeply upset about Andy’s death. Andy was a very charismatic character whose loss will leave a big gap within the orthopaedic department. For everyone who worked with, cared about and loved Andy, we can only imagine how devastating this news is. We are all going to miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

For more information on this press release, please contact Kerry Beadling-Barron on 02476 967597

Andrew Sprowson