Pioneer of Hip Replacement Surgery Honored with Blue Plaque

A commemorative blue plaque has been unveiled in tribute to the individual who performed the world’s first hip replacement operation more than six decades ago. Professor Sir John Charnley carried out the “life-changing” procedure in 1962 at Wrightington Hospital, located near Wigan, Greater Manchester. Annually, one million people across the globe now undergo this operation. The plaque was revealed outside the hospital, which remains a leading center for orthopaedic surgery, a status established by Sir John. The pioneer founded the hospital’s Centre for Hip Surgery and received his knighthood in 1977. His son, Tristram Charnley, who helps manage a charitable trust dedicated to maintaining his father’s legacy, stated: “We now see hip and knee replacement surgery as a commonplace thing but it all started here in Wrightington.” He continued, “People came from all over the world to study with my father and people were willing to put themselves forward, almost as guinea pigs, in the hope that their pain would be reduced”. Sir John was born in Bury in 1911 and began his medical career at Manchester Royal Infirmary, specializing in orthopaedics. He was also a pioneer in the fight against infection control in major surgery, contributing to the creation of a sterile air flow system that is still utilized globally. Surgeon Bodo Purbach commented that Sir John left a significant legacy. “Charnley put together the full operation from the anaesthetics, to infection control and how to rehabilitate the patient,” Purbach explained. He added, “This is the breakthrough in modern hip replacement surgery.” Sir John worked at Wrightington Hospital from 1948 until his death in 1982. The hospital continues to be a centre of excellence for orthopaedic surgery, conducting approximately 1,500 hip replacements each year.