Andrew Cattell performed the very first meniscal transplant at the University Hospital of Hartlepool in 2025.
Now the orthopaedic surgeon from University Hospitals Tees has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in arthroscopic knee surgery by the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).
He is the first surgeon in Britain and one of only six globally to be awarded a full ESSKA certification.
Andrew said: “I am deeply honoured to achieve a certificate of excellence from ESSKA. This milestone represents years of hard work, intense assessments and the invaluable opportunity to work alongside leading European surgeons who developed the very techniques being examined.”
He went on: “It has been a highly rewarding journey, and I am excited to bring these innovative techniques to our hospitals to directly benefit our patients and enhance their long-term recovery outcomes.”
Andrew was presented with his prestigious award at the ESSKA conference in Prague, which featured a formal award ceremony and round table discussion.
He added: “The ESSKA certification process has equipped me with the advanced knowledge, surgical precision, and clinical insight needed to treat the most complex sports knee injuries. Now qualified as an ESSKA Certified Teacher, I aim to achieve ESSKA accreditation for University Hospitals Tees in the future. This will enable us to launch a local, world-class teaching centre- bringing high-quality training to the region and directly improving patient outcomes.”
