Research, Publications & Surgical Education
– Mr Ross Fawdington
Mr Ross Fawdington is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in hand and wrist surgery in Birmingham. Alongside his clinical practice, he has active roles in clinical research, surgical education, examining and postgraduate surgical training.
His academic interests include hand and wrist surgery, upper-limb trauma, fracture fixation, corrective surgery and surgical education.
Clinical Research
Mr Fawdington is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham site Principal Investigator for the NIHR-funded PORTRAIT trial (Post-Operative Radiotherapy in Surgically Treated Bone Metastases).
PORTRAIT is a multicentre randomised controlled trial investigating whether patients undergoing surgery for fractures or impending fractures, caused by metastatic bone disease require routine postoperative radiotherapy.
Mr Fawdington has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed research in hand surgery, upper-limb trauma, orthopaedic trauma, fracture fixation and surgical education.
His MSc in Hand Surgery dissertation was A Systematic Review of the Complications of Oblique Ulna Shortening Osteotomies.
Hand Surgery Education & Examining
Mr Fawdington has a longstanding role in postgraduate surgical education and the training and assessment of other surgeons.
He is an RCS Accredited Examiner, and Examiner for the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) Diploma in Hand Surgery. He is a Member of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
He was awarded the prestigious British Society for Surgery of the Hand Stack Travelling Fellowship, through which he visited internationally recognised hand and wrist surgery centres in the United States, including the Mayo Clinic, Hospital for Special Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Dell Medical School.
Cadaveric Surgical Training & Research
Mr Fawdington has developed and organised cadaveric surgical simulation and anatomy training for orthopaedic surgeons. His work in this field subsequently resulted in peer-reviewed research evaluating deliberate-practice cadaveric hand-surgery simulation.
The published study evaluated training in three hand and wrist procedures:
Distal radius fracture open reduction and internal fixation;
Flexor tendon repair; and
Ulnar shortening osteotomy.
The research examined how high-fidelity cadaveric simulation and deliberate practice can be used to improve surgical training while allowing surgeons to develop technical skills away from patients.
Major Trauma Education – MISTT Course
Mr Fawdington is a Director of the Major Incident Surgical & Trauma Teams (MISTT) course, providing advanced multidisciplinary education for surgeons and clinical teams involved in the management of major trauma and mass-casualty incidents.
His educational experience therefore spans both specialist hand and wrist surgery and the management of complex orthopaedic and major trauma.
OrthOracle Surgical Techniques
Mr Fawdington is a Publishing Editor for OrthOracle, an online surgical education resource providing detailed operative techniques for surgeons.
He has authored 16 illustrated step-by-step surgical techniques, including procedures involving the wrist, forearm and complex orthopaedic trauma.
His upper-limb contributions include operative techniques covering:
These operative guides are written for surgeons and provide step-by-step descriptions of surgical approaches, fracture reduction, fixation techniques and postoperative management.
Peer Review & Publications
Mr Fawdington is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to hand and wrist surgery.
He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed academic publications covering hand surgery, upper-limb trauma, fracture fixation, complex orthopaedic trauma and surgical education.
Freestyle Deliberate Practice Cadaveric Hand Surgery Simulation Training for Orthopedic Residents: Cohort Study
JMIR Medical Education, 2022
Co-authored by Hannah James and Ross Fawdington, this study evaluated cadaveric hand-surgery training in distal radius fracture fixation, flexor tendon repair and ulnar shortening osteotomy.
Olecranon Fractures: Patterns, Fixation Types, and Outcomes
Cureus, 2026
Research from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham examining fracture patterns, different methods of fixation and outcomes following olecranon fracture surgery.
Locking Plates for Displaced Fractures of the Lateral End of Clavicle: Potential Pitfalls
International Journal of Shoulder Surgery, 2012
An upper-limb trauma publication examining technical considerations and potential complications associated with locking-plate fixation of displaced lateral clavicle fractures.
A full list of Mr Fawdington’s academic publications is available through PubMed and ResearchGate.
Orthopaedic Textbook
Earlier in his career, Mr Fawdington was a co-editor of the 4th edition of Oswestry Orthopaedic Basic Sciences for the FRCS(Orth).
The textbook covers the basic sciences required for higher specialist training and the FRCS(Orth) examination and was written as a postgraduate educational resource for trauma and orthopaedic surgeons.
Clinical Hand & Wrist Practice
Mr Fawdington’s research and educational interests complement his clinical practice as a Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
His elective practice focuses on the assessment and treatment of hand and wrist conditions, including nerve compression, arthritis, tendon and ligament disorders, hand and wrist fractures, and the management of complications or deformity following previous injuries.
If you’re experiencing hand and wrist or related symptoms, we can confirm the cause and tailor a plan – often starting with splints/hand therapy and exercises, with medicines, injections or surgery only where appropriate.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
For emergencies (severe/new weakness, spreading infection, uncontrolled pain, significant injury) call 999, or use NHS 111 for urgent guidance.
Appointments:
- Self-pay patients can book without a GP referral
- Insured patients (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, etc…) can book once authorised.
Clinics are available at:
- The Harborne Hospital – HCA, Birmingham
- Nuffield Health Wolverhampton Hospital
- The Priory Hospital, Birmingham
To book or ask a question, contact Vikki (Private Secretary):
☎ 07510 417479
✉ Secretary@ExpertHandSurgery.co.uk