Orthopaedic Surgeon

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BS) University of Sydney
• Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
• Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts 
• Medico legal AMA guides 4, 5 & 6

Experience

• Worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney as Junior Medical Officer 
• 1989 accepted to Australian Orthopaedic Association training scheme
• Joint Replacement Fellowship with Dr Wui Chung , Penrith 1994

Further Training

1989-1993

• Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, Baulkham Hills Private with Bruce Shepherd and Bill Walter.
• 6 months of Paediatric Orthopaedics at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, Portland Oregon, USA.

Appointments

• Unaccredited Orthopaedic Registrar Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
• VMO Orthopaedic Surgeon Sydney Children’s Hospital 1994-present
• VMO Orthopaedic Surgeon Bowral District Hospital 1995-present
• VMO Orthopaedic Surgeon Goulburn Base Hospital 1995-2019

Orthopaedic Practice

My predominant Orthopaedic interest is knee and hip replacement surgery. I have performed over 1000 medial pivot knee replacements recently and over 1000 anterior muscle-sparing approach hip replacements.

I use computer guided alignment techniques. We use CT planning for our knee and hip replacement. For example, with knee replacements patients have a scan performed locally which is then emailed to Switzerland and Switzerland then manufacture custom instruments for alignment using 3-D printers.

Accuracy of implant positioning is vital for long-term survival of both knee and hip replacement. I am happy to perform robotic surgery but I would make some comments about robot guided surgery.

Firstly there no randomised perspective studies that document improved long-term results with robot guided surgery compared to other techniques.

Secondly the surgery generally takes 20-30 minutes longer using robotic surgery. Orthopaedic infection is often directly related to the length of time of surgery and the risk of infection may be increased.

Robotic knee replacements also require pins to be inserted above and below the knee and this increases the risk of both infection and fracture. I am happy to perform robotic guided surgery if patients specifically requested it but my personal preference is patient specific instrumentation using 3-D printers.

I am a co-designer of the MPact acetabular hip replacement which is being used internationally.

I also perform knee sports surgery including ACL reconstruction. I perform hand surgery and shoulder surgery including rotator cuff repair, instability surgery and shoulder replacement.

I perform surgery of the foot and ankle. I do not perform spinal surgery.

Voluntary Work

I have visited Tonga on an annual basis for the past 24 years, performing voluntary surgery for children with clubfeet. 

Teaching Commitments

• I teach as an Associate Clinical Professor teaching medical students from the University of Wollongong. You may meet some of the students in my rooms or at the hospital.
• I teach anatomy at the University of Sydney.
• I am honoured to be an examiner for the Royal Australian College of Surgeons Fellowship Exams in Australia and New Zealand.
• I have organised a trial exam in Bowral for the training registrars for the past 20 years. You may be asked to participate in the exam and assist their education.
• I teach the anterior approach hip replacement technique in Australia and overseas. I have recently been appointed to the Board of the MORE international educational institute.

Committees

• I have been a member of the Medical Advisory Committee at the Southern Highlands Private Hospital for 15 years.
• Operating Theatre Management Committees of both the Private and the Public Hospitals.
• Treasurer of the Australian Paediatric Orthopaedic Association.
• Ethics in Advertising Committee of the Australian Orthopaedic association.