About Mr Paul Parker

Mr Paul Parker is a Consultant Orthopaedic knee, foot and ankle Surgeon with over 24 years experience as a Consultant. He is also the British Army's most senior Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, and has a busy NHS practice at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, the UK's largest level 1 trauma centre.

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Mr Parker holds regular private and NHS clinics at Circle Health Group's The Priory Hospital in Birmingham (West Midlands, England), and Woodlands Hospital in Darlington (County Durham, England). Having a network of top-level physiotherapists and orthotists in both regions, enables Mr Parker to treat patients with a wide range of sports and musculoskeletal injuries.

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Mr Parker likes to take a holistic based approach to care, and he and his team can provide a comprehensive assessment in the diagnosis and management (both conservatively and operatively) of injuries of the knee, foot and ankle. Mr Parker takes pride in knowing when to operate, and most importantly, when not to.

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Mr Parker is an avid skier and runner and has a key understanding of the needs of an athlete. He has been a pitch side doctor for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and consulting orthopaedic surgeon for Middlesbrough Football Club games.

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Specialist Interests

• Sports medicine

• Musculoskeletal injuries

• Knee pain

• The young knee

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries

• Achilles tendonitis

• Chronic compartment syndrome

• Shin/Calf pain

• Ankle pain

• Foot pain

• Plantar fasciitis

• Heel Pain

• Foot surgery for toe problems

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Training

Mr Parker qualified in Medicine from Queen's University Belfast in 1985. As well as being a Consultant, he is also a Colonel in the British Army. After finishing medical school Mr Parker attended Sandhurst Military Academy, and then went on to spend 2 years overseas on military duty in Central America and Germany. He trained as a military orthopaedic surgeon in London, Edinburgh and the world-renowned 'Shock-Trauma' Center in Baltimore, USA. It was here that he developed his interest in trauma resuscitation and reconstruction. 

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Consultant

Mr Parker became a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in 1998, and his first placement as a Consultant was at the military Duchess of Kent Hospital in Catterick, North Yorkshire. In 1999 with the closure of the Dutchess of Kent Hospital, he moved to the newly acquired Military Defence Hospital Unit at The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton (which in 2002 joined South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust). This allowed Mr Parker to bring his expertise in the management of lower limb injuries to a wider civilian audience as well as to overseas military personnel. 

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Mr Parker worked at South Tees Hospitals until 2012 when his military career took him to Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital in Birmingham, which is now a weekly commute from his home in North Yorkshire. Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the largest UK level 1 trauma centre and also houses the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine which acts as the primary receiving facility for all injured service personnel coming back from overseas. It serves 5 million people living in the West Midlands and receives patients from as far as Bangor in North Wales, to Herefordshire. Mr Parker has an excellent understanding of the needs of the 'soldier athlete', and routinely treats military personnel from all over the UK and overseas.

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Mr Parker specialises in lower limb orthopaedics however, his training covered all aspects of orthopaedic surgery, and for a long time he would routinely operate on shoulders, hands, spines and hips.  He therefore has a broad knowledge of orthopaedics. Before moving to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in 2012, his practice also included hip and knee replacement surgery. As a trauma and injury hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital does not provide a joint replacement service, and Mr Parker therefore chose to concentrate on lower limb reconstruction. With his wealth of experience in joint problems he is now keen to use modern joint preservation techniques to prolong the life of the knee and ankle, and avoid joint replacement surgery for as long as possible.

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Military Expertise

Having treated thousands of military personnel throughout the UK and overseas, Mr Parker is sensitive to the unique demands of the soldier athlete. As well as treating military personnel in his NHS practice, he has regularly held military outreach clinics in Edinburgh, Northern Ireland and Colchester. Mr Parker brings this expertise of utilising rapid diagnostic imaging techniques, scientific diagnosis, proven surgical techniques, and intensive team-based rehabilitation to both his NHS and private practice.  

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Other Areas of Expertise

Mr Parker is a well respected national and international speaker. In recent years he has lectured in Japan, France, the United States of America, Iceland, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic. Mr Parker maintains an active research portfolio and as well as writing over 70 peer reviewed medical papers, he helped author the NHS's Emergency Response protocols for Major Incident Management and preparedness for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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Mr Parker also volunteers as a Consultant for the charity Swinfen, providing telemedicine support to remote clinics around the world. 

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Mr Parker likes to keep his interests broad outside medicine and in 2018 completed the US Army Mountain Medicine Course in the green hills of Vermont, and is working towards his diploma in mountain medicine.

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Professional Positions

• Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

• Senior Lecturer in Special Operations Medicine, University College Cork

• Trauma and Orthopaedic Lead, International Postgraduate Deanery, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

• Course Director, Damage Control Orthopaedics Trauma Skills Course

• Assessor - FRCS (Orth) Consultant's exit exam for the Intercollegiate Board in Orthopaedics

• External Examiner - MSc Trauma Program, University of Swansea

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Publications

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/B0128-clinical-guidelines-for-use-in-a-major-incident-v2-2020.pdf

 

The Royal College of Surgeons of England Damage Control Orthopaedic Trauma Skills course (DCOTS): resuscitative knowledge and confidence in surgical skills are reliably maintained at six months post course.

Parker P, Bodger O, Pallister I.Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2023 Jul;105(6):548-553. doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2023.0030. PMID: 37390847

 

ACLR and military service: time to rethink?

Cain DC, Parker P. BMJ Mil Health. 2023 Jan 26:e002261. doi: 10.1136/military-2022-002261. Online ahead of print. PMID: 36702522

 

Effect of special operational forces surgical resuscitation teams on combat casualty survival: A narrative review. Beckett A, Parker P, Naveed A, Williams P, Tien H. Transfusion. 2022 Aug;62 Suppl 1:S266-S273. doi: 10.1111/trf.16969. Epub 2022 Jun 29. PMID: 35765916 Review.

 

UK Field Medical Care 2032: one Military Vision.

Parker P, Pynn H, Haldane AG, Ballard M, König TC, Johnston AM. BMJ Mil Health. 2022 Jan 28:e002056. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-002056. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35091495 

 

Battlefield REBOA: Aces High or Journey's End?

Parker P, Johnston AM, Mountain A, Pynn H. BMJ Mil Health. 2022 Jan 18:e002054. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-002054. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35042758 

 

Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet - Stabilized (AAJTS) can be applied both successfully and rapidly by Combat Medical Technicians (CMTs).

Smith TN, Beaven A, Handford C, Sellon E, Parker PJ. BMJ Mil Health. 2021 Nov 30:e001881. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001881. PMID: 34848491

 

Combat Application Tourniquet fares well in a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear dress state.

Beaven A, Sellon E, Ballard M, Parker P. BMJ Mil Health. 2021 Apr;167(2):75-79. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2019-001261. Epub 2020 Feb 20. PMID: 32086262

 

Novel Essential Amino Acid Supplements Following Resistance Exercise Induce Aminoacidemia and Enhance Anabolic Signaling Irrespective of Age: A Proof-of-Concept Trial.

Lees MJ, Wilson OJ, Webb EK, Traylor DA, Prior T, Elia A, Harlow PS, Black AD, Parker PJ, Harris N, Cooke M, Balchin C, Butterworth M, Phillips SM, Ispoglou T .Nutrients. 2020 Jul 12;12(7)

Developing TCCC Guidelines for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Casualty Evacuation.

Parker PJ. J Spec Oper Med. 2020 Spring;20(1):40-42.

 

The Potential Use of the Abdominal Aortic Junctional Tourniquet® in a Military Population: A Review of Requirement, Effectiveness, and Usability. Handford C, Parker PJ. J Spec Oper Med. 2019;19(4):74-79.

 

Surgical Lessons from Operation Herrick Wood T, Parker PJ. British Army Review, Autumn 2019.

https://www.army.mod.uk/media/7217/bar-176-full-edition.pdf

 

Skeletal muscle, haematological and splenic volume characteristics of elite breath-hold divers.

Elia A, Wilson OJ, Lees M, Parker PJ, Barlow MJ, Cocks M, O'Hara JP.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2019 Dec;119(11-12):2499-2511. doi: 10.1007/s00421-019-04230-6. PMID:31542805

 

The NATO Special Operations Surgical Team Development Course A Program Overview.

Parker PJ.J Spec Oper Med. 2019 Fall;19(3):26-29. Review. PMID: 31539431

 

From Bastion to Birmingham. What have we learnt from acute military trauma care and how has it impacted on emergency treatment of civilian trauma? Nandra R, Parker P, Porter K. 2018

J Orthoplastic Surg 1:26-32

 

The Combat Application Tourniquet Versus the Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet.

Beaven A, Ballard M, Sellon E, Briard R, Parker PJ. J Spec Oper Med. 2018 Fall;18(3):75-78.

PMID:30222842

 

Improvised first aid techniques for terrorist attacks.

Loftus A, Pynn H, Parker P. Emerg Med J. 2018 Aug;35(8):516-521. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2018-207480. Epub 2018 Jun 15. PMID:29907602

 

Prospective use of unmanned aerial vehicles for military medical evacuation in future conflicts.

Handford C, Reeves F, Parker P.

J R Army Med Corps. 2018 Mar 9. pii: jramc-2017-000890. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2017-000890. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29523753

 

Working Memory Capacity and Surgical Performance While Exposed to Mild Hypoxic Hypoxemia.

Parker PJ, Manley AJ, Sand R, O'Hara JP, Mellor A. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017 Oct 1;88(10):918-923. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.4761.2017. PMID: 28923140

 

Combat Trousers as Effective Improvised Pelvic Binders A Comparative Cadaveric Study.

Loftus A, Morris R, Friedmann Y, Pallister I, Parker P.

J Spec Oper Med. 2017 Fall;17(3):35-39. PMID: 28910465

 

In a stable battlefield, avoid using austere surgical units to meet the golden hour of trauma time to care goal.

Childers R, Parker P.

Injury. 2017 Sep 1. pii: S0020-1383(17)30567-3. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.08.048. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28903862

 

Group O low titre only emergency donor panels for small combat teams.

Doughty H, Maguire A, Fitchett G, Parker P.

J R Army Med Corps. 2017 Sep 6. pii: jramc-2017-000830. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2017-000830. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28883026

 

One hundred years on: Ypres and ATLS.

Parker RS, Parker PJ.

Emerg Med J. 2017 Sep 4. pii: emermed-2017-207023. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2017-207023. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 28870995

 

Non-battle injury among repatriated UK armed forces since cessation of combat operations: a prospective observational study.

Toman E, Beaven A, Naumann DN, Myatt RW, Parker PJ, Kay AR.

J R Army Med Corps. 2017 Aug 23. pii: jramc-2017-000766. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2017-000766. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28835512

 

Two New Effective Tourniquets for Potential Use in the Military Environment: A Serving Soldier Study.

Beaven A, Briard R, Ballard M, Parker P.

Mil Med. 2017 Jul;182(7):e1929-e1932. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00298.

PMID: 28810992

 

Intra-pelvic pressure changes after pelvic fracture: A cadaveric study quantifying the effect of a pelvic binder and limb bandaging over a bolster.

Morris R, Loftus A, Friedmann Y, Parker P, Pallister I.

Injury. 2017 Apr;48(4):833-840. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2017.01.046. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

PMID: 28259377

 

The impact of sleep deprivation in military surgical teams: a systematic review.

Parker RS, Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2017 Jun;163(3):158-163. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2016-000640. Epub 2016 Sep 13. Review. PMID: 27625370

 

Demystifying damage control in musculoskeletal trauma.

Bates P, Parker P, McFadyen I, Pallister I.

Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2016 May;98(5):291-4. PMID: 27023640

 

Bayesian Scoring Systems for Military Pelvic and Perineal Blast Injuries: Is it Time to Take a New Approach? Mossadegh S, He S, Parker P. Mil Med. 2016 May;181 (5 S:127-31.

PMID: 27168562

 

Transfusion support by a UK Role 1 medical team: a 2-year experience from Afghanistan.

Aye Maung N, Doughty H, MacDonald S, Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2015 Sep 23. pii: jramc-2015-000489. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2015-000489. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26400976

 

The Cost of Deploying a Role 2 Medical Asset to Afghanistan.

Childers R, Parker P. Mil Med. 2015 Nov;180(11):1132-4. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00640.

PMID: 26540703

 

What Is the Optimal Device Length and Insertion Site for Needle Thoracostomy in UK Military Casualties? A Computed Tomography Study. Blenkinsop G, Mossadegh S, Ballard M, Parker P.

J Spec Oper Med. 2015 Fall;15(3):60-5.

 

Taking transfusion forward. Parker P, Nordmann G, Doughty H. J R Army Med Corps. 2015 Mar;161(1):2 PMID: 25698830

 

Pediatric surgery skill sets in Role 3: the Afghanistan experience. Mckechnie PS, Wertin T, Parker P, Eckert M. Mil Med. 2014 Jul;179(7):762-5.  PMID: 25003861

 

A comparison of the IED-related eye injury rate in ANSF and ISAF forces at the UK R3 Hospital, Camp Bastion, 2013. Parker P, Mossadegh S, McCrory C. J R Army Med Corps. 2014 Mar;160(1):73-4. PMID: 24357748

 

The evaluation of an abdominal aortic tourniquet for the control of pelvic and lower limb hemorrhage. Taylor DM, Coleman M, Parker PJ. Mil Med. 2013 Nov;178(11):1196-201.

 

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rcse/brcs/2013/00000095/00000009/art00017

Improvised Explosive Device-Related Pelvi-perineal Trauma: UK Military Experience, Literature Review and Lessons for Civilian Trauma Teams (Editorial). Mossadegh S, Midwinter M, Parker P, Bulletin R Coll Surg Engl, August 2013.

 

The damage control surgery set: rethinking for contingency. Tai N, Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2013 Dec;159(4):314-5. PMID: 24109120

 

Developing a cumulative anatomic scoring system for military perineal and pelvic blast injuries. Mossadegh S, Midwinter M, Parker P.  J R Army Med Corps. 2013 Mar;159 Suppl 1:40-4.

PMID: 23631325

 

Improvised explosive device related pelvi-perineal trauma: anatomic injuries and surgical management. Mossadegh S, Tai N, Midwinter M, Parker P. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012 73: S24-31. PMID: 22847089

 

Internal fixation on deployment: never, ever, clever? Beech Z, Parker P J. R Army Med Corps. 2012 Mar;158(1):4-5. PMID: 22545365

 

Changes in surgical workload at the JF Med Gp Role 3 Hospital, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, November 2008-November 2010. Jacobs N, Taylor DM, Parker PJ. Injury. 2012 43(7):1037-40.

PMID: 22236366

 

Consensus statement on decision making in junctional trauma care. Parker P; Limb Trauma Working Group. J R Army Med Corps. 2011157:S293-5. PMID: 22053391

 

Initial extremity war wound debridement: a multidisciplinary consensus. Guthrie HC, Clasper JC, Kay AR, Parker PJ; Limb Trauma and Wounds Working Groups, ADMST. J R Army Med Corps. 2011 Jun;157(2):170-5. PMID: 21805768

 

An evaluation of two tourniquet systems for the control of prehospital lower limb hemorrhage.

Taylor DM, Vater GM, Parker PJ. J Trauma. 2011 Sep; 71(3):591-5. PMID: 21768905

 

Amputation and the assessment of limb viability: perceptions of two hundred and thirty two orthopaedic trainees. Eardley WG, Taylor DM, Parker PJ. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010 Jul;92(5):411-6.

PMID: 20487591

 

Novel haemostatic dressings. Lawton G, Granville-Chapman J, Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2009 Dec;155(4):309-14. PMID: 20397608

 

Limb compartment syndrome and fasciotomy. Clasper JC, Standley D, Heppell S, Jeffrey S, Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2009 Dec;155(4):298-301. PMID: 20397606

 

Optimal clinical timelines--a consensus from the academic department of military surgery and trauma. Tai NR, Brooks A, Midwinter M, Clasper JC, Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2009 Dec;155(4):253-6. PMID: 20397599

 

Training tomorrow's military surgeons: lessons from the past and challenges for the future.

Eardley WG, Taylor DM, Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2009 Dec;155(4):249-52.

PMID: 20397598

 

Skill sets and competencies for the modern military surgeon: lessons from UK military operations in Southern Afghanistan. Ramasamy A, Hinsley DE, Edwards DS, Stewart MP, Midwinter M, Parker PJ. Injury. 2010 May; 41(5):453-9.PMID: 20022003

 

Training in the practical application of damage control and early total care operative philosophy--perceptions of UK orthopaedic specialist trainees. Eardley WG, Taylor DM, Parker PJ.

Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010 Mar;92(2):154-8. Dec 7.PMID: 19995485

 

Training for war: teaching and skill-retention for the deployed surgical team.

Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Mar;154(1):3-4. PMID: 19090377

 

Self-assessment in trauma & orthopaedics II.  Eardley WG, Page PR, Doorgakant A, Parker PJ.

J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Dec;154(4):247-53. PMID: 19496371

 

Forward trauma surgery in Afghanistan: lessons learnt on the modern asymmetric battlefield.

Tai N, Hill P, Kay A, Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Mar;154(1):14-8.PMID: 19090380

 

Operation Musketeer--the Suez crisis 1956. Parker PJ, Kirby N. J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Dec;154(4):231-5. PMID: 19496366

 

Pre-hospital antibiotic administration. Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Mar;154(1):5-6. PMID: 19090378

 

Femoral neck stress fractures in military personnel--a case series. Talbot JC, Cox G, Townend M, Langham M, Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2008 Mar;154(1):47-50.PMID: 19090388

 

Casualty evacuation timelines: an evidence-based review.

Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2007 Dec;153(4):274-7. Review. PMID: 18619162

 

Orthopaedics & trauma. Eardley WG, Parker PJ, Cross AT. J R Army Med Corps. 2007 Sep;153(3):195-204. PMID: 18200919

 

The military tourniquet. Parker PJ, Clasper J. J R Army Med Corps. 2007 Mar;153(1):10-2. PMID: 17575869

 

Damage control surgery and casualty evacuation: techniques for surgeons, lessons for military medical planners. Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2006 Dec;152(4):202-11.PMID:

 

Gluteal compartment syndrome following joint arthroplasty under epidural anaesthesia: a report of 4 cases. Kumar V, Saeed K, Panagopoulos A, Parker PJ. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2007 Apr;15(1):113-7.PMID: 17429132

 

Experiences of medical care with the 250th Forward Surgical Team (Airborne) during a military operation into Northern Iraq in 2003. Parker PJ. Mil Med. 2007 Feb;172(2):127.PMID: 17357762

 

In search of Victor Horsley. Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2006 Sep;152(3):128-31. PMID: 17295007

 

Forward surgery on Operation Telic--Iraq 2003. Parker PJ, Adams SA, Williams D, Shepherd A.

J R Army Med Corps. 2005 Sep;151(3):186-91.PMID: 16440963

 

Metalwork removal in potential army recruits. Evidence-based changes to entry criteria.

Townend M, Parker P. J R Army Med Corps. 2005 Mar;151(1):2-4.PMID: 15912677

 

First military use of activated Factor VII in an APC-III pelvic fracture. Williams DJ, Thomas GO, Pambakian S, Parker PJ. Injury. 2005 Mar;36(3):395-9.PMID: 15710156

 

Fracture of the radial donor site after composite free flap harvest: a ten-year review. Clark S, Greenwood M, Banks RJ, Parker P. Surgeon. 2004 Oct;2(5):281-6.PMID: 15570848

 

The treatment role of the plastic nail guard for ingrowing toenails. Robertson DG, Parker PJ.

J R Army Med Corps. 2001 Jun;147(2):183-6. PMID: 11464411

 

Kosovo 1999--a surgical template for modern conflict. Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 2000 Oct;146(3):199-203.PMID: 11143689

 

Biomechanical comparison of fixation of type-I fractures of the lateral tibial plateau. Is the antiglide screw effective? Parker PJ, Tepper KB, Brumback RJ, Novak VP, Belkoff SM. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999 May; 81(3):478-80.PMID: 10872370

 

Catastrophic familial rhabdomyolysis: compartment syndrome with muscle fibre regeneration. Parker PJ, Evans MJ, Annan IH.  J Pediatr Orthop B. 1999 Jan;8(1):64-6.PMID: 10709605

 

Percutaneous fluoroscopic screw fixation of acetabular fractures. Parker PJ, Copeland C. Injury. 1997 Nov-Dec;28(9-10):597-600.PMID: 9624336

 

Posterior Compartment Syndrome following Rupture of a Baker's Cyst. Dunlop D. Parker PJ. Keating JF.  Injury 1997, 28:8 561-2. PMID: 9616400

 

Salmonella Subdural Haematoma in an HIV+ Patient Parker PJ, Harland SP, Protheroe AS Br J Neurosurg. 1995 9: 85-86. PMID: 7786434

 

Metachronous bilateral testicular tumours of differing histologies. Parker PJ. J R Army Med Corps. 1993 Oct;139(3):128-9.PMID: 8277467

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