Mr Andrew Cattell, an orthopaedic surgeon from University Hospitals Tees has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in arthroscopic knee surgery by the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).
Mr Cattell who specialises in sports knee and knee replacement surgery was required to complete five intense courses to earn the accreditation.
He completed qualifications in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, multifilament reconstruction, meniscal surgery, patellofemoral surgery and osteotomy surgery.
Each course was made up of three sections: a postgraduate written exam to assess theoretical knowledge, a detailed case study featuring a full clinical workup and surgical video of a patient and a two-day practical assessment in an arthroscopic cadaveric laboratory (a specialist medical training facility).
He was presented with the prestigious award at the ESSKA conference in Prague earlier this year, which featured a formal award ceremony and round table discussion.
Mr Cattell said: “I am deeply honoured to achieve a certificate of excellence from ESSKA.
“This milestone represents years of hard work, intense assessments and the invaluable opportunity to work alongside leading European surgeons who developed the very techniques being examined.
It has been a highly rewarding journey, and I am excited to bring these innovative techniques to our hospitals to directly benefit our patients and enhance their long-term recovery outcomes.”
Mr Cattell has already introduced several cutting-edge procedures across University Hospitals Tees, including performing the first meniscal transplant at the University Hospital of Hartlepool in 2025.
He is also in the process of implementing arthroscopic trochleoplasty — a technique which helps to reshape the trochlear groove on the front of the knee, without the need for major open surgery.
Mr Cattell said: “The ESSKA certification process has equipped me with the advanced knowledge, surgical precision, and clinical insight needed to treat the most complex sports knee injuries.
“Now qualified as an ESSKA Certified Teacher, I aim to achieve ESSKA accreditation for University Hospitals Tees in the future.
This will enable us to launch a local, world-class teaching centre- bringing high-quality training to the region and directly improving patient outcomes.”