Research, Guidelines & Articles
Mr Simon Abram is a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Bristol with over 40 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including The Lancet, BMJ, British Journal of Sports Medicine, and the American Journal of Sports Medicine. This section provides patient-friendly summaries of published research, clinical guidelines, and broader articles on topics relevant to knee health. For a full list of publications, visit Google Scholar, ORCID, or ResearchGate.
Articles & Insights
Joint Replacements and Weight Loss Drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)
GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss drugs are increasingly common among patients considering knee replacement. This article looks at how significant weight loss may affect joint symptoms, surgical candidacy, and perioperative care. Read more.
Partial vs Total Knee Replacement: What the TOPKAT Trial Found
The landmark TOPKAT trial followed 528 patients for 10 years comparing partial (unicompartmental) and total knee replacement for medial compartment arthritis. Partial replacement matched total on outcomes and durability while being more cost-effective – a strong endorsement of partial knee replacement for the right patient. Read more.
Clinical Guidelines
Summaries of key clinical guidelines from ESSKA, BASK, NICE and other bodies, with practical explanations of what they mean for patients.
Patellofemoral Instability
ESSKA Consensus: Managing a First-Time Kneecap Dislocation
The 2024 ESSKA formal consensus on first-time patellar dislocation, developed by 12 leading European experts and reviewed by 24 independent clinicians. This guideline challenges the traditional “conservative for everyone” approach, recommending individualised treatment based on anatomy, risk factors, and imaging findings. Read the summary.
My Published Research
Mr Abram has contributed to over 40 peer-reviewed publications spanning ACL reconstruction outcomes, meniscal repair evidence, knee replacement survivorship, and musculoskeletal research methodology. Below are patient-friendly summaries of key studies, with more being added over time. You can also browse the full publication list on Google Scholar, ORCID, or ResearchGate.
Meniscus Research
Risks of Keyhole Meniscus Surgery: A Study of 700,000 Procedures
A landmark analysis of serious complications after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy across England over 20 years, published in The Lancet. The largest study of its kind, providing the most comprehensive safety data for this common knee operation. Read the summary.
ACL & Ligament Research
Long-Term Risk of Knee Replacement After ACL Reconstruction
Using NHS data on 135,881 people who underwent ACL reconstruction in England, this British Journal of Sports Medicine study compared each person's reconstructed knee with their own uninjured knee. It found the reconstructed knee was about three times more likely to need a knee replacement over the long term, while the absolute risk remained low for most people. Read the summary.
ACL Surgery or Physiotherapy? What the SNNAP Trial Found
The landmark ACL SNNAP randomised controlled trial in The Lancet compared surgical reconstruction with physiotherapy for non-acute ACL injuries across 29 UK hospitals. Surgery gave better average results at 18 months and was cost-effective, while many patients still did well starting with physiotherapy. Read the summary.
Knee Replacement Research
Partial vs Total Knee Replacement: Comparing the Outcomes That Matter to Patients
A systematic review in The BMJ of 60 studies comparing partial (unicompartmental) and total knee replacement across patient-relevant outcomes. Partial replacement offered faster recovery, fewer serious complications, and better movement and function, while total replacement had a lower revision rate. Read the summary.
