As a true innovator in his field, Adrian has contributed to knee surgery in many key areas:
- Ligament reinforcement with Internal Brace: in 2013 Adrian presented a technique to augment a cruciate reconstruction with a composite polymer fibre tape, which has since become known as an ‘internal brace’
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27141865): Adrian has used fibre tape extensively for ACL Repair, and it has become especially useful in children’s ACL surgery. His team’s paper, published in 2016, on ‘Paediatric ACL repair reinforced with temporary internal bracing’ is the first to present ACL repair in children
- All-Inside technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) repair (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716211/): Adrian has helped to develop a new surgical technique known as the All-Inside ‘translateral’ approach, along with the instruments needed to carry out this pioneering procedure
- Anterolateral ligament (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429259/): Adrian has been involved for some years in the Anterolateral Ligament Expert Group, working with Dr Steven Claes and other experts to determine the function and significance of this structure, as well as surgical techniques for its reconstruction.
- The CoolCut CaliBrator: Adrian worked with the manufacturer, Arthrex, to develop the CaliBrator for anterolateral ligament (ACL) reconstruction
- Graft compression tubes (https://www.arthrex.com/resources/pdv/p9XftDcjnkmsHwFN40Xeiw/graft-compression-tubes): This was an innovation of Adrian’s that allows the surgeon to downsize any graft – sometimes significantly – in order to take less bone from the patient when drilling the tunnel for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
- Minimally invasive techniques in knee realignment (osteotomy) surgery: Adrian has developed a very precise technique both to measure and carry out minimally-invasive knee realignment (osteotomy) surgery using tiny incisions. He has contributed to the development of new plates which are smaller and allow quicker recovery, as well as the use of a bone wedge and new cryotherapy to enhance recovery. The techniques mean that patients can bear their own weight soon after surgery and have a faster and more successful rehabilitation period
