Dr. Andrew St. Claire-Thomas

Dr. Andrew St. Claire-Thomas is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston, one of Jamaica's well-established private hospitals providing specialist surgical care. With 15 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery, he brings Fellowship-level expertise in joint replacement, arthroscopic procedures, and trauma management to his practice in the Caribbean.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas trained at the University of the West Indies, Mona, before undertaking higher surgical training in the United Kingdom, where he earned Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons with a subspecialty in Orthopaedics (FRCS Ortho). He returned to Jamaica to build a practice that addresses the significant unmet need for quality orthopaedic surgical care across the island and the wider English-speaking Caribbean.

He works with a broad patient demographic, from active young adults sustaining sports injuries to older patients with degenerative joint disease who require total joint replacement. His surgical precision and commitment to evidence-based practice have established him as a trusted choice for complex orthopaedic procedures in Jamaica.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas completed his medical degree at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He subsequently undertook higher surgical training in the United Kingdom within the orthopaedic surgery training programme, earning Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons with a specialisation in Orthopaedics (FRCS Ortho) — one of the most rigorous and internationally recognised surgical qualifications.

His UK training provided extensive exposure to high-volume joint replacement programmes, complex trauma, and arthroscopic techniques across teaching hospitals with considerable throughput. On returning to Jamaica, he brought these skills to Medical Associates Hospital and has continued professional development through membership of the Jamaica Orthopaedic Association and the Caribbean Orthopaedic Association, participating in regional surgical education and training initiatives.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas offers a comprehensive range of orthopaedic surgical services at Medical Associates Hospital. His joint replacement practice covers both total knee and total hip replacement for patients with advanced osteoarthritis or post-traumatic joint degeneration. He uses modern implant systems and surgical techniques aimed at maximising longevity of the prosthesis and optimising the patient's functional recovery.

In arthroscopic surgery, he treats a wide range of knee and shoulder pathologies using minimally invasive techniques that significantly reduce recovery time compared to open procedures. His sports orthopaedics work includes ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, rotator cuff repair, and the management of shoulder instability — conditions common among Jamaica's active sporting population, including athletes competing at school, club, and national level.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas also manages acute fractures and complex musculoskeletal trauma, providing both surgical stabilisation and rehabilitation guidance. He assesses and manages scoliosis in adolescent and adult patients, working with a multidisciplinary team where complex spinal cases require broader input. His conditionsTreated list spans osteoarthritis, ligament tears, rotator cuff disorders, and fractures across all age groups.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas has contributed to discussions on orthopaedic practice within the Caribbean surgical community, with a particular interest in improving access to joint replacement for patients across the region. Osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal conditions represent a growing burden in Jamaica's ageing population, and he has been an advocate for developing sustainable surgical capacity locally rather than requiring patients to travel abroad for definitive care.

He has presented case series and clinical experience at regional orthopaedic meetings, sharing insights on joint replacement outcomes and arthroscopic surgery in the Jamaican patient context. His clinical experience informs practical guidance on post-operative rehabilitation tailored to the facilities and community support structures available to patients in Jamaica.

Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston is increasingly sought by patients from the Caribbean diaspora in North America and the United Kingdom who wish to undergo orthopaedic procedures — particularly joint replacement — at substantially lower cost than in their country of residence, while receiving care from a Fellowship-trained surgeon in an English-speaking environment with familiar cultural context.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas offers pre-operative video consultations for international patients, allowing him to review imaging (X-rays, MRI), medical history, and fitness for surgery before the patient travels to Kingston. Patients planning elective joint replacement should allow approximately two to three weeks in Jamaica to cover pre-operative assessment, the surgical procedure, and initial post-operative physiotherapy before returning home. Video follow-up is available for post-operative check-ins with patients who have returned to their home country.

Dr. St. Claire-Thomas is recognised within the Jamaican orthopaedic community for bringing Fellowship-level surgical expertise back to the island following his UK training — contributing to a broader effort to retain specialist surgical talent in the Caribbean rather than losing it to international medical brain drain.

He is an active member of both the Jamaica Orthopaedic Association and the Caribbean Orthopaedic Association, where he participates in professional standards development, continuing medical education, and advocacy for improved orthopaedic service capacity across the region. His commitment to quality surgical outcomes at Medical Associates Hospital reflects a broader mission to make specialist orthopaedic care accessible to patients within Jamaica rather than requiring medical travel abroad.