Mr Murali Bhat

Mr Bhat is a renowned orthopaedic hand surgeon, with over three decades of specialised experience in Hand Surgery and over four decades in healthcare. He has, in collaboration with his early mentor, published several important papers, which have successfully helped shape the hand surgery practice around the world. Practising in the UK, as a consultant for over twenty years, he is a prominent tertiary expert in the field of wrist and hand surgery. Every patient under his care has found to his/her delight that Mr Bhat lives by a simple yet powerful maxim – “The best Surgeon is someone who knows when NOT to operate, WHEN to operate, and finally HOW to operate.”

Mr Bhat is passionate about his beliefs and has always reiterated that surgery is and always will be his last resort because that is the best recourse for his patients because it involves the least risk. Whether he would have the same treatment himself is the question he asks himself as an acid test, regarding every patient, every time.

The hand is one of the most complex and beautiful pieces of natural engineering in the human body and is a biomechanical marvel. It allows us to manipulate tasks, both simple and complex, with great precision. This versatility and synchronicity are vital for us to conduct all aspects of our lives with productivity and ease.

Mr Bhat is dedicated to his branch of surgery, successfully restoring the dexterity and alignment of these vital extremities.

The human hand and wrist are anatomically complex, made up of a total of 27 individual bones: 8 carpal bones, 5 metacarpal bones and 14 “finger bones” (also called phalanges). Joints and ligaments connect these bones.

These small and intricately designed bones in the hand align precisely to provide a full range of motion and precision. When one of the bones or ligaments is injured, it can force the entire hand out of alignment.

With over 30 years of experience in hand surgery, Mr Bhat has the experience and expertise to correctly diagnose your condition/s at the very first consultation. After carefully listening and taking a holistic view of the detailed history, he helps patients choose the best treatment option necessary, with the least risks. He will discuss all the available treatment options with their risks, consequences of those risks and benefits, so the best choice is well informed.

Among Mr Bhat’s many successful hand surgeries is what he calls ‘The Magnificent 7’, which constitute the seven most common operations he performs. Fracture surgery (6 and 7) is time-critical. Therefore, they are preferentially carried out on the NHS.

1) Carpal Tunnel Release

2) Trigger finger release

3) Fasciectomy (for Dupuytren’s disease)

4) Trapeziectomy (for thumb arthritis)

5) Cubital Tunnel Release

6) Distal Radius (wrist) fracture Surgery

7) Finger Fracture Surgery

The six components of motor skills related to fitness are agility, balance, coordination, power, reaction time and speed.

All these have to function and work in concert and with precision.

This is precisely what Mr Bhat aims to restore to damaged hands.

Many musculoskeletal ailments are expertly treated with steroid injections in the safety of his clinic, with his hand therapist ably assisting him in the treatment and cure.

In his aesthetically appointed clinic, each patient is made to feel safe and comfortable, with Mr Bhat on hand, professional and reassuring, all questions answered. Each patient is personally assessed, a detailed diagnosis made, and the right line of treatment prescribed – for unparalleled results! Undoubtedly, each patient will be dealt the best hand!

C V

Consultant

Orthopaedic and Upper Limb Surgeon, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, appointed in 2005

Expertise: Hand surgery, wrist surgery, acute hand and upper limb trauma, post-traumatic hand and wrist reconstruction, distal radius fracture surgery, tendon transfer surgery, chronic wrist pain, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis surgery, joint replacements, arthroscopic wrist surgery including triangular fibrocartilage complex surgery, Dupuytren’s Surgery, sports injuries, carpal tunnel surgery, precision cortisone injection, joint fusion/arthrodesis, fractures, overuse injuries, dislocations, trigger finger surgery, repetitive strain injury, tendonitis, wrist pain, hand pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain, stiff joints, infections, musician’s hand problems, wrist instability, tumour surgery, Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow surgery, Cubital tunnel surgery, ulnar nerve compression, elbow replacement, bunion correction, hammer toe correction, arthritis of the big toe, Morton’s neuroma, plantar fasciitis.

Hobbies and Interests–Golf, Gym, Yoga, travelling, fine dining, watching plays, films and TV serials.

Trainer for Specialist Registrars, Foundation trainees, Trust Doctors, Undergraduates, General Practitioners, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Radiographers, Orthopaedic Practitioners and Nurses.

Widely Presented– National and International Podium Presentations Refer to CV

Widely Published– National and International Publications Refer to CV

Trained others during the Covid-19 crisis, when Virtual Clinics became the only way to deliver healthcare, 2019.

Advanced Lean Training (ALT) 2019, “Promoting Innovation” and “Mistake Proofing”

Championed Virtual Clinics in Surrey and Sussex, following on from the Toyota Production System (TPS).

Highlighted on the BBC “One Show” 15 October 2018.

Championed “Rooming In” following on from TPS to improve patient/staff satisfaction and capacity, 2018

Championed “Mistake Proofing” by implementing “Preference Sheets” as a checklist for standard surgical procedures before commencing surgery, 2018.

Lean for Leaders (L4L) 2017, the TPS model in healthcare care successfully implemented and taught by the Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle.

Examiner for the Hand Surgery Diploma 2016 to date.

Medico-legal: CUBS certified in 2024, Accredited Mediator 2014, Expert Medical reports for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence since 2001, Expert Witness in Court since 2001.

Senior Specialist Registrar, Trauma and Orthopaedics. Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. Trained in Shoulder Surgery. 2003-2005

European Diploma in Hand Surgery EDHS 2003

Locum Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedics. Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, UK  2002-2003

Hand Surgery National Fellowship. Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK 2001-2002

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery FRCS

(T&O) 1999

Specialist Registrar training, Northern Ireland. Trauma and Orthopaedics. Overseas Doctors Training Scheme ODTS 1996-2000. Member of the team treating victims of the Omagh Bomb Blast stationed at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in 1998

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, General Surgery FRCS1996

Lecturer in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar, India 1993-1995

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery training, TN Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Bombay,

India MS1993 (Member of the team treating the victims of Hindu V Muslim Riots in Bombay

1992)

MS Thesis, Bombay University, 1992, Wrist fracture management

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Examination, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi,

India, Diplomate of National Board DNB Orth. 1992

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Examination, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Bombay,

India, Diploma in Orthopaedics D.Orth.1991

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India (MD) Pathology

1989 (Member of the team dealing with continued Riots following Operation Blue Star)

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India. ENT Gold Medal. MBBS 1988

Educated at National High School and College, Bangalore, India, 1977-82

Decorated Gymnast 1973-85

Born in West Bengal, India 1965. His late dad and role model was a highly respected and decorated Indian civil servant. His mum, a homemaker, spends most of her time now doing charity work in rural India.

Mr Bhat’s daughter, Dr Anjali, is a lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience at Exeter, and his son Ashwin is a Mathematics PhD student at Birmingham University.