Mr Eric Isbister

Mr Isbister is a senior surgeon with specialist expertise in hip and knee replacement. He has 32years experience and has carried out around 6,500 joint replacements.

Mr Isbister qualified from Glasgow University in 1982 with initial Orthopaedic training in Glasgow and subsequently in Birmingham. In 1991 he began training in metal on metal hip resurfacing as it was being developed as a potential answer for the younger, more active patient with arthritis of the hip. On taking up post as a consultant in 1994, he introduced the procedure to Wolverhampton as part of only 3 centres worldwide carrying out the procedure at the time. The procedure was redesigned in 1997 (Birmingham Hip Resurfacing BHR/Adept) and has remained unchanged since with very good long-term results.

In 1994 Mr Isbister set up the first specialised Hip and Knee replacement service in the City using a variety of implants (Exeter hip, Cementless cup fixation, ceramic on ceramic bearings) to address patients' specific needs including complex primary and revision operations. In 1997 he set up the Wolverhampton Bone Bank based at New Cross Hospital to supply donor allograft bone which is used for reconstruction in revision joint replacement and trauma operations. He has a 27year experience in unicondylar knee replacement in selected patients.

Mr Isbister has closely followed the development of a new Ceramic on Ceramic Hip Resurfacing (ReCerf) for some years which combines two proven hip technologies in an innovative design. It now has good 5 year results and was released for general use in July 2025. Hip Resurfacing is most suitable for younger patients (under 60 years) who are at risk of revision surgery in the future. Resurfacing conserves the femoral head - a cap is placed over the femoral head and a thin cup is placed inside the socket with minimal bone removal. Total hip replacement always requires removal of the femoral head. Failure of hip replacements from wear and loosening usually results in bone loss. The more bone that is conserved at the first operation, the more straightforward and lower risk the subsequent revision surgery.  Metal on metal hip resurfacing has shown very good long-term results in men at more than 25 years, but is less successful in the smaller sizes required for women.  Ceramic on ceramic bearings in total hip replacements have shown good long-term results with low wear and perform well in smaller sizes and are not associated with concerns over metal reactions. Ceramic on ceramic hip resurfacing combines the advantages of a proven low friction, low wear bearing and the well-established technique of hip resurfacing offering the potential of a high functioning, bone conserving, low wear implant for all patients but particularly for women. Mr Isbister has carried out ceramic on ceramic hip resurfacing in selected cases over the last year.

Hip and Knee replacements take just under an hour. Patients can often be discharged the following day with the majority going home on Day 2. Most patients have made a good recovery by 8 to 12 weeks.