Who is Mr Shelain Patel?

Mr Shelain Patel (BSc, MBBS, DipSEM, FRCS) is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who works exclusively on foot and ankle conditions in London and Stanmore. He is one of only four foot and ankle surgeons at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the UK's top rated orthopaedic institution.

What conditions does Mr Shelain Patel treat?

He treats the full range of foot and ankle disorders including ankle sprains, ligament damage and instability, ankle arthritis and cartilage injuries, Achilles tendon tears and pain, bunions and big toe arthritis, flat feet and tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction, plantar fasciitis and heel pain, Morton's neuroma, foot drop following nerve and spine injuries, congenital and complex acquired deformities, and trauma including osteochondral lesions.

What surgery does Mr Shelain Patel perform?

Procedures include bunion correction, ankle replacement, ankle fusion, keyhole ankle arthroscopy and microfracture, Broström-Gould ligament repair, Achilles tendon repair and Haglund excision, big toe replacement and fusion, Morton's neuroma excision, flat foot and cavus foot reconstruction, minimally invasive metatarsal osteotomy, and tibialis posterior tendon transfer for foot drop. Only about one in three consultations leads to a discussion of surgery.

Where does Mr Shelain Patel practise?

His private practice is in the Harley Street district of Central London at HCA Princess Grace Hospital and King Edward VII's Hospital, and in North London at Spire Bushey, Elstree Waterfront and RNOH Private Care in Stanmore. The consultation address is 30 Devonshire Street, London, W1G 6PU.

How do I book a consultation with Mr Shelain Patel?

Consultations can be booked by contacting his secretary on 020 3960 1705 or by email at patelpa@gop.health. He accepts both private medical insurance and self pay patients.

Does Mr Shelain Patel offer second opinions?

Yes. Through his role at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital he provides specialist second opinions for patients facing complex foot deformity or who have had unsuccessful previous treatment.

Foot & Ankle Referral Information for GPs & Healthcare Professionals

Shelain Patel

Specialist Foot & Ankle Referral in London

Mr Shelain Patel is a Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon in London and Consultant at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH).

His clinical practice is dedicated exclusively to conditions affecting the foot and ankle, including ankle arthritis, ankle replacement, Achilles tendon disorders, sports injuries, bunions, flat feet, ankle instability and complex foot and ankle deformity.

This section provides information for GPs, physiotherapists, podiatrists, sports physicians, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons and other healthcare professionals referring patients for specialist assessment.

When to Refer a Patient

Referral for specialist foot and ankle assessment may be appropriate when:

symptoms persist despite appropriate conservative treatment
the diagnosis remains uncertain
there is significant functional limitation
symptoms are affecting work, sport or everyday activities
there is recurrent ankle instability
there is suspected significant cartilage or osteochondral injury
there is persistent Achilles tendon pathology
there is progressive foot or ankle deformity
there is symptomatic ankle arthritis
a patient is considering ankle replacement or fusion
there is a history of significant ankle trauma or fracture
previous surgery has not produced the expected outcome
a second opinion would be helpful
complex reconstruction may be required

Referral does not necessarily mean that surgery will be recommended. A specialist assessment can help establish the diagnosis, review previous investigations and determine whether further treatment is required.

What Conditions are Treated?

Mr Patel's specialist practice covers the full spectrum of orthopaedic foot and ankle conditions.

Ankle:

Ankle arthritis
Ankle replacement
Ankle instability
Ankle fractures
Ankle impingement
Ankle arthroscopy
Osteochondral lesions of the talus
Complex ankle deformity

Achilles and Tendons:

Achilles tendon rupture
Achilles tendinopathy
Tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction
Peroneal tendon disorders
Other foot and ankle tendon problems

Forefoot:

Bunions
Big toe arthritis
Lesser toe deformity
Morton’s neuroma
Forefoot pain

Flat Feet and Deformity:

Adult acquired flat foot
Progressive collapsing foot deformity
Cavus foot
Hindfoot deformity
Complex foot and ankle reconstruction
Neuromuscular foot deformity

Sports Injuries:

Ankle sprains
Chronic ankle instability
Achilles injuries
Osteochondral injuries
Tendon injuries
Running-related foot and ankle problems
Sports-related foot and ankle trauma

Ankle Arthritis and Ankle Replacement

Ankle arthritis is an important area of Mr Patel's specialist practice. Patients with symptomatic ankle arthritis can be assessed for both non-operative and surgical treatment. Depending on the individual circumstances, treatment may include:

physiotherapy
activity modification
footwear modification
orthotics
injections
corrective surgery
ankle replacement
ankle fusion

Ankle replacement requires careful assessment of ankle alignment, bone quality, stability, previous surgery and the condition of the surrounding foot.

[Read the ankle arthritis referral information]

[Read the complete ankle replacement guide]

Complex Foot & Ankle Problems

Mr Patel also sees patients with complex or previously treated conditions, including:

post-traumatic ankle arthritis
previous ankle fracture
significant deformity
previous failed surgery
recurrent instability
bone loss
retained metalwork
complex flat-foot deformity
revision foot and ankle surgery

These patients may require review of previous imaging, operative reports and treatment history before an appropriate management plan can be established.

[Refer a complex case]

What Investigations Should Be Obtained Before Referral?

Investigations depend on the presenting problem although it is not necessary to arrange every investigation before referral.. Where appropriate, useful information may include:

weight-bearing foot or ankle X-rays
previous fracture X-rays
MRI scans
CT scans
ultrasound
blood tests where inflammatory or infective pathology is suspected

In many cases, the most useful approach is to provide the clinical history and available imaging and allow specialist assessment to determine whether further investigations are required.

What Information Should a Referral Include?

A useful referral should ideally include:

patient's main symptoms
duration of symptoms
relevant mechanism of injury
previous injuries or surgery
previous treatment
current functional limitations
relevant medical history
relevant medications
smoking status where relevant to surgical planning
previous imaging
relevant blood-test results
specific clinical question

For complex cases, previous operative reports and earlier imaging can be particularly valuable.

Second Opinions

Patients may seek a second opinion when:

surgery has been recommended
previous treatment has not produced the expected result
there is uncertainty about the diagnosis
a complex reconstruction is being considered
ankle replacement or fusion is being discussed
there has been previous unsuccessful surgery

The purpose of a second opinion is to review the diagnosis and available treatment options and provide an independent specialist assessment.

[Second opinions and complex cases]

Communication with Referrers

Good communication between the specialist and referring clinician is an important part of patient care.

Following consultation, relevant clinical information and recommendations can be communicated to the referring healthcare professional.

Where surgery is undertaken, appropriate follow-up and rehabilitation are discussed with the patient and relevant healthcare professionals.

Teaching and Education

Mr Patel has an established interest in orthopaedic education and regularly contributes to teaching of trainees and healthcare professionals.

His academic and educational work includes research, peer-reviewed publications, teaching and participation in national foot and ankle education.

He is also involved with the Stanmore Foot & Ankle Course and foot and ankle education at the RNOH.

[Research & Education]

Private Referral

Patients can be referred for private consultation for specialist assessment of foot and ankle conditions. Private consultations are available in central London at The London Clinic, and in North London at HCA Elstree and through RNOH Private Care.

Please ensure that patients with private medical insurance confirm their insurer's requirements and authorisation before consultation where applicable.

[Private referral and contact details]

NHS Referral

Mr Patel is a Consultant at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. NHS referrals should follow the appropriate NHS referral pathway and local commissioning arrangements.

The private practice enquiry form should not be used to refer an NHS patient who is currently under the care of the RNOH.

Contact

For private referral enquiries concerning foot and ankle conditions, please contact Mr Patel's private practice team.

Telephone: 020 3960 1705
Email: patelpa@gop.health

[Make a referral enquiry]