The doctor who treated UK violinist Jack Liebeck (left) for a ganglion cyst in his wrist last year has launched a new clinic in London specialising in musicians' upper-limb problems.

Dr John White, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, will work with a team of hand and upper-limb therapists at BMI Healthcare's The Garden Hospital in Hendon, north-west London, and at a BMI clinic in Harley Street.

White is a former professional orchestral timpanist, and did his PhD on the subject of musicians' musculo-skeletal problems. He has treated musicians suffering from a range of problems, including repetitive strain syndrome, rheumatoid disease and severe cases of Dupuytren's contracture, a hand disorder where the fingers bend towards the palm and cannot be fully straightened.

Liebeck came to White in 2011 with a small but painful ganglion – a fluid-filled sac – in his right wrist. Instead of surgery, White used a more conservative procedure, aspiration, to remove the cyst. The fluid was drained off using a needle and syringe, and then a steroid was injected to promote healing. Liebeck was able to perform again just a day later.

The clinic is open to both private and NHS patients (through GP referral), and anyone who performs, teaches or practises music for a minimum of 20 hours a week.

 

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