I am a Consultant Knee Surgeon and have been working in South Essex since 2008. I specialise in treating knee sports injuries in adults and children, as well as osteoarthritis of the knee in adults. I also have extensive experience in assessing and managing all children's orthopaedic conditions.

I have a specialist interest in regenerative surgery of the knee. I have developed a surgical technique to regenerate cartilage to treat cartilage defects using the patient’s own bone marrow stem cells and growth factors derived from the patient’s own blood. The stem cells and growth factors are injected onto a scaffold that is placed into the cartilage defect and held in position using fibrin glue. The cartilage gradually replaces the scaffold to fill the defect allowing the patient to live without pain and with a normal functioning knee.

I am recognised nationally as a specialist in treating children’s knee injuries. I was a member of the National Steering Committee that in October 2020 published the Report on the Management of Paediatric Soft Tissue Knee Pathology. All members of the committee were chosen as experts in their field of children’s orthopaedics and sports knee surgery. This report summarised the best evidence on how to manage anterior cruciate ligament injuries and meniscus (buffer cartilage) injuries in children.

I have pioneered a surgical technique for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction in children that avoids damaging their growth plates which would otherwise result in growth disturbances around the injured knee.

I perform more ligament reconstructions in the knee than any other Trauma & Orthopaedic surgeon in the Mid and South Essex region. I use an all-inside surgical technique for my ACL reconstructions which improves the positioning of the graft and reduces the volume of bone removed around the knee. I will often strengthen the ACL reconstruction with an augmentation procedure called an Anterolateral Ligament Tenodesis. This reduces excessive rotation of the knee following the ACL reconstruction and therefore reduces the risk of failure of the new ACL graft.

I have great experience and expertise in the management of kneecap instability, which we call Lateral Patellar Instability. This condition may present with a number of different symptoms such as dislocations of the kneecap (which can recur many times), “popping or catching” of the kneecap, giving way or buckling of the knee, or pain, stiffness and swelling of the knee. The most common form of surgery performed for this condition is a Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction which prevents the kneecap from moving out of the groove at the lower end of the thigh bone.

Wherever possible I undertake knee surgery as a minimally invasive procedure. This is known as keyhole or arthroscopic surgery and is performed through small incisions. This technique reduces postoperative pain and speeds up postoperative rehabilitation.

I trained at The Royal London Medical School and qualified as a doctor in 1994. I became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1999. I trained as a Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon in North West Thames and became a Consultant at Basildon Hospital in October 2008.

I am available for appointments at the Spire Wellesley Hospital on Wednesdays from 8am - 12pm.

I welcome patients wishing to refer and pay for treatment themselves without the need for a GP's letter of referral.

Below is feedback from some of my patients at Spire Wellesley Hospital:

November 2021: 'Mr Symons was very friendly and went through everything clearly. He made me feel at ease' 

November 2021: Mr Sean Symons has recognised my need for a knee replacement from early 2017. Throughout that period he has been compassionate and understanding of my situation using easy to understand language about my condition. Despite the availability of several dates in 2017, fate conspired against me and, in the end, I requested a further consultation with Sean to discuss offsetting the surgery and the reasons for this. Sean gave me sound advice to manage the condition to prevent further physical degradation along with the confidence that I could approach this in a few years once life had settled. In August 2019 I approached Sean again via my doctor referral following a trauma to the knee. Despite COVID restrictions, the service I have received from Sean and his team has been second to none. Sean has worked with me to get the result required which eventually led to the operation on the 10 November 2021. I am extremely grateful to Sean and his understanding. It's hard to imagine that this would be replicated in all consultants. Once again my extreme gratitude to Sean and the team at Spire Wellesley Hospital'. 

November 2021: 'Mr Sean Symons was very informative throughout from the initial diagnosis right to before and after my total knee replacement treatment. First class in everything he does - a credit to himself and his profession'.