Mr Karim Abdelghafour

Mr Karim Abdelghafour is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon based at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, specialising in foot and ankle surgery. He is triple fellowship-trained, having completed three advanced fellowships at leading orthopaedic and major trauma centres across the UK.

His first fellowship was at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, where he gained valuable experience in a broad range of orthopaedic conditions, including trauma surgery, complex fracture management and elective foot and ankle procedures.

He subsequently undertook an advanced foot and ankle fellowship at Wrightington Hospital, an internationally renowned orthopaedic centre, where he developed specialist expertise in total ankle replacement, complex hindfoot surgery and reconstructive procedures.

His third fellowship was at The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, one of Europe's busiest major trauma centres, where he gained extensive experience in managing complex foot and ankle injuries, trauma reconstruction, sports injuries and challenging reconstructive conditions for post-traumatic conditions.

In recognition of his professional achievements and commitment to advancing foot and ankle surgery, Mr Abdelghafour was awarded the prestigious European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS) Travelling Fellowship, a highly regarded international fellowship providing opportunities to learn from leading foot and ankle surgeons across Europe.

Mr Abdelghafour graduated with Honours from Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the Middle East, ranking among the top 1% of his graduating class. His outstanding academic performance laid the foundation for his career in orthopaedic surgery and his continued pursuit of clinical and academic excellence.

Alongside his clinical training, Mr Abdelghafour has completed advanced research degrees, including a Master of Science (MSc) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Orthopaedic Surgery. He is actively involved in academic research, surgical education and professional development, regularly contributing to national and international courses, conferences and educational programmes, where he shares his expertise with fellow surgeons and trainees.

Specialist Interests

Mr Abdelghafour provides comprehensive care for a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, with specialist interests in:

• Ankle arthritis and deformity, including total ankle replacement and ankle fusion
• Ankle arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) for ankle impingement, cartilage injuries and other joint conditions
• Ankle instability and ligament injuries, including ligament reconstruction
• Bunions (hallux valgus) and other forefoot deformities
• Lesser toe deformities, including hammer toes and claw toes
• Big toe arthritis (hallux rigidus), including joint-preserving procedures and fusion
• Flatfoot deformity, including tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction
• High-arched feet (pes cavus) and complex foot deformities
• Hindfoot and midfoot arthritis, including reconstructive surgery and joint fusion
• Minimally invasive and keyhole foot and ankle surgery
• Achilles tendon disorders, including tendinopathy and ruptures
• Peroneal tendon disorders and other soft tissue conditions
• Plantar fasciitis and chronic heel pain
• Osteochondral lesions of the talus and ankle cartilage injuries
• Sports-related foot and ankle injuries
• Foot and ankle trauma, including complex fractures of the ankle, calcaneus (heel bone), talus and midfoot (Lisfranc injuries)
• Diabetic foot conditions and Charcot arthropathy, including complex reconstruction

He is committed to delivering patient-centred, evidence-based care, with a strong emphasis on clear communication and shared decision-making. He takes time to understand each patient's symptoms, lifestyle and expectations, carefully explaining their diagnosis and discussing all available treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical.

His philosophy is to offer personalised treatment that helps patients relieve pain, restore mobility and return to the activities they enjoy, with surgery recommended only when appropriate.