Le Point magazine published its list of the best hospitals and clinics in France this week. The Fondation Hopale has certainly made its mark. The Hopale ranks number 1 for knee replacements. Let's meet surgeon Bertrand Bouxin, Head of Surgery and Anaesthesia and knee specialist.

– What does the Le Point ranking mean to you?

"The Fondation Hopale has come first for knee replacements several times. We're ahead of the top healthcare providers and university hospitals despite being in the little seaside town of Berck! It's recognition of our work. There are ten surgeons at Hopale including three lower limb specialists providing knee replacements: Doctors Didier Baert, Alain Cazenave and myself."

– How many knee replacement operations are there per year?

"Around 650. We don't rest on our laurels. The Fondation Hopale also carries out the most operations."

– What ailments have you treated?

"Knee arthritis is the main reason for knee replacements. They're often elderly or overweight patients. Very few are caused by accidents."

– How long does it take to fit a replacement?

"We're well-oiled with 650 operations a year. We know exactly what to do and what order to do it in. We can fit a knee replacement in 45 minutes...That said, no two procedures are alike. You never work on the same knee. I often compare my work to that of a carpenter. We are knee joiners!"

– Where are the people who come to you for surgery from?

"60% of them are from the Boulogne and Montreuil areas and the rest are from north of Paris right up to Belgium."

– Have knee replacements changed over time?

"The first knee replacements date back to the 70s. There was nothing prior to that. The implants were rather basic. Some doctors even advised their patients against it. Great technological progress was made in the 80s and it continued into the 90s. We now use a chrome and cobalt alloy."

The Fondation Hopale leads the way in six specialities

As well as coming first in knee replacement in Le Point's list (which reviewed 1400 hospitals and clinics), the review praised the Fondation Hopale's skills in other fields.

  • The Fondation Hopale came 14th in knee injury ahead of Pitié-Salpêtrière, Clermont-Ferrand, Marseille etc.
  • It came 4th in hip replacements ahead of Saint-Étienne, Metz, Amiens and Nantes.
  • The Berck centre also came 6th in shoulder surgery ahead of Paré, Reims, Montpellier, Bordeaux etc.
  • Hopale came 26th for spine surgery and 30th for rheumatology.

published on 27/08/2014 – La Voix du nord

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