Surgical excellence with a sporting twist
When it comes to medical expertise, Nicholas Goddard has an impeccable record.
As an Emeritus Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Senior Lecturer at London’s Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, his reputation is second to none.
However, much of his work as an orthopaedic surgeon has been carried out on sporting stars covering the fields of rugby, tennis and cricket while he is also sought after by top ballet performers to treat a wide variety of injuries.
Such a line of work was accelerated by his own keen sporting interests having played and refereed rugby and he became medical officer to London Irish and Rosslyn Park FC where he has been President for five years.
He has also been the Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Oval, home of Surrey County Cricket Club and the Royal Ballet School.
Mr Goddard said: “I have treated many top sporting stars over the years, many Wimbledon champions, international cricketers and international rugby players.
“Winning the surgeon work is all wheels within wheels and word of mouth. I worked with one particular physiotherapist who was involved at London Irish and he said, ‘well, why don't you help us?
“It worked in the same way with tennis, and I still see the occasional tennis player, largely because they trust me and my decision making and because I live near to Wimbledon and the National Tennis Centre.”
Mr Goddard was appointed Consultant in January 1990 having qualified in 1978 from the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, University of London, also working there as a Senior Registrar from 1986-89.
In 1989 he received diplomas in Microsurgical Techniques and Surgery of the Hand and Upper Limb at the University of Paris VI and later used his foreign language skills as an Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Dispensaire Francais, a charitable organisation for medical and social aid in London.
He is an Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and past Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth and an Examiner for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree at the University of London, the Royal College of Surgeons and for the European Diploma in Hand Surgery.
In 1998, along with Prof Joe Slade from Yale University, he devised a novel method of fixing acute scaphoid fractures using a minimally invasive technique which is now recognised as the “gold standard” for managing this injury.
Mr Goddard has more than 130 publications in peer reviewed journals covering many aspects of orthopaedics, most recently covering joint replacement, sports injuries and wrist and hand injuries as well as surgery in patients with haemophilia. In 2023 he was awarded the Pietrogrande prize from the World Federation of Haemophilia recognising his contribution to the field over his professional career.
In addition, he has 18 invited publications in non-peer reviewed journals, multiple book chapters and is author and co-editor of three books including Kirk’s General Surgical Operations.
Mr Goddard is also involved in medico-legal work involving both personal injury and medical negligence claims, reviewing records, preparing reports, attending conferences and making court appearances.
He has recently contributed to a meeting of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers regarding aspects of back injuries with his experience to date involving more than 2,000 personal injury cases and 250 negligence cases.
Having started working for TLA three years ago, Mr Goddard provides up to 180 expert reports a year with 75 per cent personal injury and the rest clinical negligence.
“The TLA team are very responsive and a pleasure to work with and we have built a strong working relationship. I provide a prompt and efficient expert service, and they provide everything I need when I need it,” he added.