SURGEON Howard Ware has spoken of his satisfaction at the groundbreaking hip replacement operations he has carried out at Chase Farm Hospital.

Mr Ware, who is consulting orthopaedic surgeon at the Enfield hospital, has performed 12 of the new procedures which avoid cutting through muscle by moving it aside and allowing implants to go around the tissue. It has slashed patient recovery time from 11 days to 24 hours.

He said: "This is certainly one of the most exciting moments of my career and a very satisfying achievement," he said.

"It is a difficult operation to perform technically as you're also conscious that you're doing something new, and it can go wrong. With any operation, anything can go wrong: you could break the thigh bone, or the hip could displace. I can deal with any complication that we have with a normal hip operation. As we do more, they become easier. We would be naive to suggest there won't be problems, but we're watching each one closely."

Mr Ware has been a consultant for 12 years and learned the new American two-incision procedure — developed by orthopaedic company Zimmer — in Paris with other European surgeons. He will now help to train more than 50 surgeons in this country over the coming year.

"It is a challenge," said Mr Ware. "I think we should push the boundaries back, as with anything, to push your profession forward."

Shirley Mattin, 68, of Starling Lane, Cuffley, was the first of Mr Ware's patients, and the first in the UK to come out of hospital just 27 hours. For osteoarthritis sufferer, Shirley it was her second hip replacement operation.

She said: "There is simply no comparison," she said. "I have had less bruising and swelling and pain this time and was walking up and down the stairs the day after my surgery. I can't praise the surgical and nursing staff at Chase Farm enough."

The new procedure is only being performed at Chase Farm Hospital, the Whittington Hosptial, Highgate, and at Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone — all NHS hospitals which have the infastructure to support patients at home.

Mr Ware explained that Mrs Mattin was able to leave so soon because she had someone to look after her at home.

He said: "I do think it was to do with having a very supportive husband. She's an active and very determined lady."

Mr Ware and his team are now looking to develop a similar technique for knee surgery.