A PIONEERING operation at York District Hospital has spared a man from getting a disfiguring eight-inch scar.

Keyhole surgery on his broken leg means Lee Barker should be back on his feet much more quickly than if he had undergone a conventional operation.

Lee, 33, was left in agony after falling at a friend's house in London. He badly broke his tibia and fibia, the bones above his ankle.

He was on strong painkillers and morphine for seven days and transferred to York so that he could be nearer his family.

Last week he underwent two-hour keyhole surgery to place a metal plate into his leg, leaving tiny incision marks instead of an eight-inch scar.

The operation was the first of its kind in York and one of the first in the country.

Lee, of Burton Stone Lane, York, is now recovering well at home with a temporary removable cast.

Piet de Boer, one of six consultant orthopaedic surgeons at YDH, carried out the pioneering operation.

He inserted an eight-inch long plate, half-an-inch wide, through a small incision above Lee's ankle. The plate was then secured with bolts through three further tiny holes.

Mr Boer said: "We have been working in York towards this type of operation for about five years and our first one has turned out to be a huge success.

"We have been working hard to evolve to this point for some time. Before, we would have to open the leg up to get to the broken bones, but we know that it is better to keep the blood supply to the area and only be invasive in such a small way.

"We do not want to replace nature and its ability to heal, just help it. And from a patient's point of view there is far less scarring and they can be up and about quicker than with the traditional invasive operation."

Lee, who owns ED Barkers gift and souvenir shop in Minstergate, added: "My sister-in-law had a similar operation just a month before me and she has a big scar and is still recovering. I'm hoping to be back at work soon.

"It is amazing how they have put the plate in through such a tiny hole."

These operations will continue to be carried out at YDH. Mr Boer added: "We are pleased with how this operation went and we know that it is a success for our patients."

Updated: 11:17 Friday, December 21, 2001