About
ABOUT
Maciej Krukowski
Veterinary Orthopaedic Surgeon
Maciej has spent much of his veterinary career focused on orthopaedic surgery, with more than 15 years of clinical experience and over a decade working as a referral surgeon.
His work ranges from routine orthopaedic procedures to complex reconstruction, joint replacement, revision surgery, advanced arthroscopy and challenging fracture management.
He has performed more than 3,000 TPLO procedures and over 350 total hip replacements, using both cemented and cementless systems in patients ranging from cats and very small dogs to giant breeds.
The aim behind Expert to the Bone is simple: to make that surgical experience available within primary care practices where the patient, veterinary team and owner can remain closely connected throughout treatment.
EXPERIENCE
From everyday orthopaedics to complex reconstruction
Maciej's surgical experience covers a broad range of orthopaedic procedures, from cruciate disease, patellar instability and fracture repair through to advanced joint reconstruction and revision surgery.
His particular interests include total joint replacement, advanced arthroscopy, corrective osteotomy, complex fracture management, external skeletal fixation and treatment of limb deformity.
He routinely works with detailed pre-operative planning and, where appropriate, CT-based planning and 3D modelling for more complex reconstructive procedures.
REFERRAL EXPERIENCE
More than a decade in referral surgery
Maciej has worked for more than ten years within referral surgical environments, managing both routine and highly complex orthopaedic cases.
This has included extensive experience in joint replacement, arthroscopy, complex trauma, corrective osteotomy, revision procedures and management of complications following previous surgery.
You may already know Maciej from the North East
Maciej has lived in the North East of England since 2018.
Between 2018 and 2024 he worked in a large multidisciplinary referral centre in the region, where he was one of the core surgeons within the joint replacement team.
During that time he was closely involved in the assessment, planning, surgery and follow-up of joint replacement patients, alongside a wider multidisciplinary clinical team.
Working in this environment also meant regular collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines when patients required advanced imaging, neurology, internal medicine, anaesthesia or intensive peri-operative care.
WHY EXPERT TO THE BONE
A different way to deliver orthopaedic surgery
Modern primary care practices often have excellent operating theatres, anaesthetic equipment, patient monitoring and experienced nursing teams.
For carefully selected patients, this means that advanced orthopaedic surgery does not always require the patient to leave the practice that already knows them.
Expert to the Bone was created to bring experienced orthopaedic surgical support into the practice rather than automatically moving every suitable patient away from it.
The patient's usual veterinary team can remain involved in communication, peri-operative care and follow-up, while Maciej provides the surgical planning, equipment and operative experience required for the procedure.
Your practice.
Your patient.
Your team.
COLLABORATION
More than simply arriving to operate
Good peripatetic surgery starts before the day of the procedure.
Imaging, diagnosis, surgical options, implant requirements, anaesthesia, theatre facilities, nursing support and postoperative care can all be discussed in advance.
Case discussion
Maciej is happy to discuss cases before a firm surgical decision has been made and to review available radiographs where helpful.
Surgical planning
The proposed procedure, implants, equipment and practical requirements are agreed before surgery.
Working with your team
The aim is to integrate with the existing veterinary and nursing team rather than replace it.
Follow-up
Routine postoperative checks and imaging can often remain within the patient's usual practice, with ongoing surgical input when required.
The intention is not to replace referral hospitals. Some patients unquestionably require advanced imaging, intensive care, multidisciplinary management or facilities that are best provided within a dedicated referral centre.
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT
Research and continued development
Maciej has maintained a strong interest in developing surgical techniques and improving clinical decision-making throughout his career.
His experience includes advanced arthroscopy of the elbow, shoulder, stifle and tarsus, complex corrective osteotomy, revision surgery and total joint replacement.
He has also developed and used distal tibiofibular arthrodesis as part of the surgical strategy for selected total ankle replacement cases.
Maciej founded and continues to lead an orthopaedic discussion group involving more than 50 veterinary surgeons, providing a forum for case discussion, exchange of experience and professional development.
He has also supported and mentored colleagues, including veterinary surgeons undertaking further surgical training.
His clinical work has featured on the BBC documentary 24/7 Pet Hospital.
QUALIFICATIONS
Professional background
Maciej Krukowski DVM, BSAVA PGCertSAS, MRCVS
His postgraduate surgical training and subsequent clinical work have been focused predominantly on small animal surgery, particularly orthopaedics.
DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
BSAVA PGCertSAS
Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery
MRCVS
Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
OUTSIDE SURGERY
When the instruments are put away
Outside veterinary surgery, Maciej is a keen sea angler and enjoys restoring old machinery with his son.
Current projects include a 1978 Massey Ferguson tractor and BMW motorcycles from the 1950s.