Research
Early on in my consultant career I saw and operated on a number of patients who had "pseudotumours" around metal on metal bearings. I have been part of the Oxford Hip Research Group that has identified this problem, but furthermore investigated it extensively to identify risk groups, causal factors and revision aspects. This has led to the formation of the Metal Hip Research Group that I co-chair to coordinate research nationally.
The next stage of my research in Oxford is to identify advanced bearing options that will obliterate the debris reaction in hip arthroplasty. I have a strong interest in this area and am involved in implant design for both primary arthroplasty and segmental tumour prostheses.
In orthopaedic oncology I work closely with the Oxford Sarcoma Research Group of Professor B Hassan and Prof N Athanasou, providing clinical input into our primary research interests on giant cell tumours and osteosarcoma. I have a personal research interest in the use of biological reconstructions in sarcoma care and the treatment of large bone defects around the hip/pelvis with trabecular metal technology.
Examples of Publications by Mr Whitwell
Papers
Lamyman M, Giele H, Critchley P, Whitwell D, Gibbons M, Athanasou N. Local recurrence and assessment of sentinel node biopsy in deep soft tissue leiomyosarcoma of the extremity. Clinical Sarcoma Research. August 2011 [Epub ahead of print]
Dean BJ, Matthews JJ, Price A, Stubbs D, Whitwell D, Gibbons CM. Modular endoprosthetic replacement for failed internal fixation of the proximal femur following trauma. Int Orthop. 2011 Aug 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Taylor R, Kashima TG, Knowles H, Gibbons CL, Whitwell D, Athanasou NA. Osteoclast formation and function in pigmented villonodular synovitis. J Pathol. 2011 Sep;225(1):151-6. Epub 2011 Jun 27.
Murray DW, Grammatopoulos G, Gundle R, Gibbons CL, Whitwell D, Taylor A, Glyn-Jones S, Pandit HG, Ostlere S, Gill HS, Athanasou N, McLardy-Smith P. Hip resurfacing and pseudotumour. Hip Int. 2011 Jun 9;21(3):279-283. [Epub ahead of print]
Ali AM, Whitwell D, Ostlere SJ. Case report: imaging and surgical treatment of a snapping hip due to ischiofemoral impingement. Skeletal Radiol. 2011 May;40(5):653-6. Epub 2011 Jan 5.
Presneau N, Shalaby A, Ye H, Pillay N, Halai D, Idowu B, Tirabosco R, Whitwell D, Jacques TS, Kindblom LG, Brüderlein S, Möller P, Leithner A, Liegl B, Amary FM, Athanasou NN, Hogendoorn PC, Mertens F, Szuhai K, Flanagan AM. Role of the transcription factor T (brachyury) in the pathogenesis of sporadic chordoma: a genetic and functional-based study. J Pathol. 2011 Feb;223(3):327-35. Epub 2010 Nov 24
Grammatopoulos G, Pandit H; Oxford Hip and Knee Group, Murray DW, Gill HS. The relationship between head-neck ratio and pseudotumour formation in metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2010 Nov;92(11):1527-34.
Grammatopoulos G, Pandit H, Glyn-Jones S, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Gill HS, Murray DW. Optimal acetabular orientation for hip resurfacing. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2010 Aug;92(8):1072-8.
Dean, B. Whitwell D. Epidemiology of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. Orthopaedics and Trauma, Volume 23, Issue 4, August 2009, Pages 223-230
Dean, B. Noyes, D. Whitwell D. Solitary plasmacytoma of the scapula. MIMS Oncology & Palliative Care. January 2010.
Harvie P, Giele H, Fang C, Ansorge O, Ostlere S, Gibbons M, Whitwell D. The treatment of femoral neuropathy due to pseudotumour caused by metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasty. Hip Int. 2008 Oct-Dec;18(4):313-20.
Pandit H, Vlychou M, Whitwell D, Crook D, Luqmani R, Ostlere S, Murray DW, Athanasou NA. Necrotic granulomatous pseudotumours in bilateral resurfacing hip arthoplasties: evidence for a type IV immune response. Virchows Arch. 2008 Nov;453(5):529-34. Epub 2008 Sep 4.
Pandit H, Glyn-Jones S, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Gibbons CL, Ostlere S, Athanasou N, Gill HS, Murray DW. Pseudotumours associated with metal-on-metal hip resurfacings. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2008 Jul;90(7):847-51.
Fang CS, Harvie P, Gibbons CL, Whitwell D, Athanasou NA, Ostlere S. The imaging spectrum of peri-articular inflammatory masses following metal-on-metal hip resurfacing. Skeletal Radiol. 2008 Aug;37(8):715-22. Epub 2008 May 14.
Gill HS, Pandit H, Glyn-Jones S, Whitwell D, Gibbons M, Athansou N, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Murray DW. Pseudotumours associated with metal-on-metal hip resurfacings. Trans Orthop Res Soc.2008;33:55
Whitwell D, Battistuta D, Thompson B, Strobel N, Duggal A, Steadman P Dickinson IC. Surgical margin and its influence on survival in soft tissue sarcoma. ANZ J Surg. 2006 Mar;76(3):104-9.
Atkins RM, Madhavan P, Sudhakar J, Whitwell D. Ipsilateral vascularised fibular transport for massive defects of the tibia. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999 Nov;81(6):1035-40.
Ohiorenoya D, Whitwell D. Occult scaphoid fracture: need to avoid complacency--case report and literature review. J Trauma. 1996 Dec;41(6):1054-5.
Burwell R, Cole A, Cook T, Grivas T, Kiel A, Moulton A, Thirlwell A, Upadhyay S, Webb J, Wemyss-Holden S, Whitwell D, Wojcik A. Pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis: the Nottingham concept. Acta Orthopaedica Belgica, 58 Suppl 1, 33-58, 1992.
Burwell R, Cole A, Cook T, Grivas T, Kiel A, Moulton A, Thirlwell A, Upadhyay S, Webb J, Wemyss-Holden S, Whitwell D, Wojcik A. Functional morphology and the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Journal of Anatomy 182, 126-132, 1993.
Oral Presentations and Abstracts
Cosker T, Whitwell D, Gibbons M, Giele H. Functional outcome following excision of large volume soft tissue sarcoma involving the sciatic nerve:13 year results. British Orthopaedic Oncology Society, Oswestry, April 2011. Prize for Best Presentation.
Gill HS, Pandit HG, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Murray DW. Volumetric Wear in Total Hip Arthroplasty ? Standard UHMWPE versus Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene A seven year double blind randomised controlled trial using Radiostereometric analysis. ORS 57th Annual Meeting, Long Beach, US, 13th-16th January 2011
Grammatopoulos GA, Langton D, Kwon Y-M, Pandit HG, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Gill HS, Murray DW. The role of acetabular component positioning in the development of inflammatory pseudotumours. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2010 Mar 9-13; New Orleans.
Smith G, Machado B, Whitwell D, Acetabular reconstruction for metatstaic lesions in the pelvis with a new cage implant. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Mar 2010; 92-B: 66 - 67
Glyn-Jones S, Pandit H, Doll H, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Gibbons M, Athanasou N, Ostlere S, Whitwell D, Taylor A, Gill R, Murray D. The risk factors for developing an inflammatory pseudotumour following hip resurfacing. A survival analysis. BOA, Manchester, September 2009.
Gill R, Pandit HG, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Glyn-Jones S, Murray DW. The Role of Acetabular Component Positioning in the Development of Inflammatory Pseudotumours. ORS 56th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, 5-6th-9th March, 2009
Kwon Y, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Ostlere S, Mclardy-Smith P, Athanasou N, Gill R, Murray D. Metal Ion Levels In Pseudotumours Following Metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacings. EFFORT, Vienna, 2-6th June 2009
Pandit HG, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Glyn-Jones S, Athanasou NA, Gill HS, Gibbons M, Murray DW. Pseudo-tumours after hip resurfacing. In: Proceedings of the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2008 Mar 5-9. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2008. p 410.
Gibbons M, Gwilym S, Giele H, Whitwell D, Critchley P, and Athanasou N. Liposarcoma of the forearm. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Jul 2008; 90-B: 401 - 402
Kwon Y, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Ostlere S, Mclardy-Smith P, Athanasou N, Gill R, Murray D. Metal Ion Levels In Asymptomatic Pseudotumours Associated With Metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacings.ORS 55th Annual Meeting, Las vegas, 22-24th February 2008.
Monk P, Pandit H, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Ostlere S, Athanasou N, Gill R, McLardy-Smith P, Murray D, Gibbons M. Psuedotumours after hip resurfacing. Combined Services Orthopaedic Society, London, 9th May 2008. BAUERFEIND PRIZE FOR THE BEST PRESENTATION
Glyn-Jones S, Pandit H, Whitwell D, Athanasou N, and Gibbons N. Psuedotumours following resurfacing arthroplasty:a case series. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, Jul 2008; 90-B: 398
Whitwell D, Dickinson I. The surgical margin revisited in soft tissue tumours. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, May 2006; 88-B: 293
Gwilym S, Whitwell D, Giele H, Jones A, Athanasou , and Gibbons M. Functional outcome following excision of large volume soft tissue sarcoma involving the sciatic nerve. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, May 2006; 88-B: 293
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgical treatment of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, May 2006; 88-B: 296 – 297
Gwilym S, Whitwell D, Giele H, and Gibbons M. Sciatic Nerve preservation in posterior thigh soft tissue sarcomas preserves function with no increase in local recurrence. J Bone Joint Surg Br Proceedings, May 2006; 88-B: 298
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgical outcome of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting Australian Orthopaedic Association, Perth, 9-14th October 2005.
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgical outcome of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting Australian Orthopaedic Association, Perth, 9-14th October 2005.
Whitwell D, Wan J, Duggal A, Dickinson I, Outcome of surgery for the treatment of foot and ankle sarcomas. 13th International Symposium on Limb Salvage, Seoul, Korea, 7-10th September 2005.
Whitwell D, Radavanovic J, Sommerville S, Dickinson I. The surgical treatment of renal cell metastases of the appendicular and pelvic skeleton. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting Australian Orthopaedic Association, Perth, 9-14th October 2005.
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgery of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. Australian Orthopaedic Association (Queensland) Annual Scientific Meeting, Palm Cove, Cairns, 11-13th June 2005.
Whitwell D, Dickinson, I. The surgical margin revisited in soft tissue sarcoma. British Orthopaedic Oncology Society (BOOS), Oxford, 17th June 2005.
Gibbons C, Whitwell D, Giele H, Jones A, Athanasou N. Functional outcome following excision of large volume soft tissue sarcoma involving the sciatic nerve. British Orthopaedic Oncology Society (BOOS), Oxford, 17th June 2005.
Steadman P, Whitwell D. Extensor mechanism repair in proximal tibial replacement. Australia Sarcoma Group, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, 21st-22nd October 2004.
Dickinson I, Whitwell D. Treatment of the isolated skeletal metastasis. Australia Sarcoma Group, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, 21st-22nd October 2004.
Dickinson I, Whitwell D. Surgery for Ewings Sarcoma of the pelvis. Australia Sarcoma Group, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, 21st-22nd October 2004.
Whitwell D, Jackson M, Atkins R. The nature of the tibial plateau fracture. In: proceedings of British Orthopaedic Association, Glasgow , 15th-18th September 1999. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Orthopaedic Proceedings, 59, 2000.
Whitwell D, Clancy, M. Paradoxical bradycardias as a response to gastro-intestinal haemorrhage. Journal Accident & Emergency Medicine, Proceedings, January 2000.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound evaluation of spinal and rib rotation in school-screening and pre-operative patients: the need for a wider perspective of scoliosis pathogenesis. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Spinal Deformity, Pescara, Italy, 26th-29th September 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound evaluation of spinal and rib rotation in pre-operative patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with observations on USS and Zielke VDS. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Spinal Deformity, Pescara, Italy, 26th-29th September 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound rib and vertebral rotation in the trunk of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In: Proceedings of the British Association of Clinical Anatomists, Sheffield, July 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound evaluation of spinal and rib rotation in screening and pre-operative patients. In: Proceedings of the 5th Biannual Conference of the European Spinal Deformities Society, Birmingham, England, 31st May-3rd June 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound evaluation of spinal and rib rotation in pre-operative patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in relation to the surface deformity, with observations on Zielke VDS. In: Proceedings of the 5th Biannual Conference of the European Spinal Deformities Society, Birmingham, England, 31st May-3rd June 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Ultrasound evaluation of spinal and rib rotation in school-screening and pre-operative patients: the need for a wider perspective of scoliosis pathogenesis. In: Proceedings of 19th Annual Meeting of the British Scoliosis Society, Bristol, 24-25th March 1994.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. Zielke VDS: Findings obtained by a multi-level ultrasound method for measuring spinal and rib torsion compared with surface methods. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Philip Zorab Scoliosis Symposium, University of Cambridge, 16th to 17th September 1993. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery; Orthopaedic proceedings, supplement I, 1994.
Burwell, R.G., Cole, A.A., Cook, T.A., Grivas, T.B., Jones, F.A., Kiel, A.W., Moulton, A., Thirlwell, A.S.,Upadhyay, S.S.,Webb, J.K.,Wemyss-Holden, S.A., Whitwell, D.J.,Wojcik, A.S.,Wythers, D.J. Functional morphology and the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. In: Proceedings of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Nederlandse. Anatomen Vereniging, Nottingham, England; 21st to 24th July, 1993.
Burwell, R.G., Cole, A.A., Grivas, T.B., Jones, F.A., Kiel, A.W., Moulton, A. Thirlwell, A.S.,Upadhyay, S.S.,Webb, J.K.,Wemyss-Holden, S.A., Whitwell, D.J.,Wojcik, A.S.,Wythers, D.J. Pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis: a multifactorial concept. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 75B, Orthopaedic Proceedings, Supplement II, 174, 1993.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. A new ultrasound method of measuring spinal and rib rotation: a comparison with surface methods for measuring deformity in scoliosis. In: Proceedings of the British Association of Clinical Anatomists, University of York, 20th December 1993.
Whitwell D, Burwell R, Kirby A, Moulton A, Polak F, Webb, J.K. A new segmental ultrasound method to measure rib and spinal torsion. In: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual General Meeting of the British Scoliosis Society, Newcastle, County Down, 20th to 21st March 1992. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery; Orthopaedic proceedings, supplement III, 1992.
Poster Presentations / Scientific Exhibits
Grammatopoulos GA, Pandit HG, McLardy-Smith P, Gundle R, Whitwell D, Gill HS, Murray DW Inflammatory Pseudotumours Associated with Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement. Scientific Exhibit, AAOS, San Diego, March 2011.
Pennant S, Morley J, Whitwell D, McNally E, Athanasou N, Gibbons M. Diagnostic Yield and Accuracy of Image Guided Core Needle Biopsy in the Investigation of Suspected Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas. EMSOS June 2011, Leiden, Netherlands.
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgery of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. British Orthopaedic Oncology Association, Oxford, 17th June 2005.
Whitwell D, Steadman P. The surgical outcome of proximal tibio-fibular joint ganglions. Accepted for poster presentation at the 13th International Symposium on Limb Salvage, Seoul, Korea, 7-10th September 2005.
Whitwell D, Radavanovic J, Sommerville S, Dickinson I. The surgical treatment of renal cell metastases of the appendicular and pelvic skeleton. Accepted for poster presentation at the 13th International Symposium on Limb Salvage, Seoul, Korea, 7-10th September 2005.
Madhavan P, Whitwell D, Sudhakar J, Atkins R. Ipsilateral vascularised fibular transport for massive defects of the tibia. British Orthopaedic Association, Glasgow, 15th-18th September 1999.
Whitwell D, Chesser T, Atkins R.. The use of skin tension to close soft tissue defects in open tibial fractures. British Orthopaedic Association, Glasgow, 15th-18th September 1999.
Whitwell D, Clancy, M. Gastro-intestinal haemorrhage and a paradoxical bradycardia. 7th Congress of the European Shock Society, 18th-20th April 1996.
Letters
Bolland BJ, Latham JM, Whitwell D. Hip resurfacing. Early failures cause concern. BMJ. 2010 Oct.
Oxford Hip & Knee Surgery Navigation
Latest News
Mr. Whitwell is the chair and convenor of the Oxford Musculoskeletal Oncology Review 2012.>> read more
