When it comes to knee surgery, choosing the right surgeon can make the difference between success and failure. That’s why it’s important to take the time to do your research before choosing a surgeon. It can be helpful to review the experience, training, and expertise of various knee specialists in Sydney, so you know you’re getting the best care possible.
Experience
A knee is a complicated hinge joint that contains ligaments and tendons. It allows for pivoting, standing and walking. Surgical treatment of knee conditions is highly specialised.
There are several orthopaedic surgeons in Sydney who have the expertise to treat this complex joint. Those in the field of knee surgery are also trained in the latest techniques and procedures. They are members of various national and international organisations. Depending on the condition, an in-patient stay may be required before the patient leaves the hospital.
Dr Brett Fritsch is a leading knee surgeon in Sydney. He has extensive experience in knee replacement surgeries and in robotic knee surgery. He has also performed cartilage repair and limb realignment procedures. In addition, he is actively involved in research and education.
Dr Anthony Keeley is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon with particular interest in hip and knee replacement and deformity correction. He is also interested in trauma surgery and ligament reconstruction. This surgeon has undergone several sub-specialty fellowships in the United States and UK.
Dr Myles Coolican is a leading orthopaedic surgeon with an impressive international resume. He completed his training in the United Kingdom and United States and continues to strive for better patient outcomes. His expertise is evident in his clinical practice. Having performed more than 3,200 surgeries, he has an in-depth knowledge of both hip and knee surgery.
Professor Lawrence Kohan has over 35 years of experience in knee replacement and related knee disorders. He is a leading orthopaedic researcher and has been awarded numerous domestic and international awards. As one of Australia’s most experienced knee surgeons, he performs thousands of knee operations a year.
Meniscus tears
If you have had a meniscus tear in your knee, you are likely experiencing pain, instability, and loss of range of motion. There are several options available for treatment, including conservative and surgical measures.
Conservative measures may be used in the early days of the injury. These methods include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, compression, and elevation. You can also try physical therapy. This will help to improve your knee’s function and reduce swelling.
Surgery is considered if you have symptoms that are not improving after conservative measures. A full meniscectomy may be necessary to restore the full range of motion. However, this can lead to degeneration of the joint, which may cause arthritis in later life.
Meniscus tears can be caused by a variety of conditions. Most often, they are the result of sudden twisting or pivoting. They can also occur during contact sports.
To diagnose a meniscus tear, an orthopedic surgeon may perform an X-ray or MRI. The results will help to identify whether the injury is structural, or if it is associated with another injury.
Meniscus tears tend to heal within three months. They are usually painful the day after the injury. Pain is more noticeable when turning or bearing weight. In addition, patients may experience swelling, stiffness, and loss of movement.
Partial meniscectomy is a surgery to remove some of the damaged cartilage from the meniscus. The procedure may be used for injuries to the inner two-thirds of the meniscus, which has a low blood supply.
Meniscus repair can be done through arthroscopic surgery, or through a traditional open surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is more effective, allowing better visualization of the knee joint. During this procedure, a scope is inserted through three or four small incisions around the knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is a common knee ligament injury. It occurs most often in sports where the leg is twisting or being bent. This can damage the meniscus, cartilage and other structures.
Physiotherapy is an important part of recovery. It can help with swelling control and range of motion. A physiotherapist will assist you with exercises to strengthen your knee and improve your mobility.
ACL reconstruction is a surgical procedure to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It involves replacing the damaged part of the ligament with a donor allograft from the bone and tissue bank. The process is minimally invasive.
Patients are usually admitted to hospital the day of surgery. They may have to stay overnight. There is also an intravenous line and drains that are removed prior to discharge.
Patients are given pain-killing medication and an instruction sheet on the exercises they need to perform at home. They will also receive three doses of post-operative antibiotics.
During the first few days of the surgery, patients are advised to avoid standing on the leg for extended periods of time. As soon as they feel well enough to stand up, they can start taking a few steps. When they can walk normally, they will be able to discontinue using crutches.
After about a week, they can begin a rehabilitation program. A physiotherapist in the hospital will give them advice and help them with exercises to regain range of motion and strength.
They may also be given ice packs to control swelling. Patients will be instructed to apply the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compression and elevation. These exercises will help to reduce bleeding and prevent infection.
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a keyhole surgery that allows the surgeon to have an unobstructed view of the knee. It’s used to treat a range of conditions including arthritis, meniscus repair and cruciate ligament tears. In addition, it’s used to detect joint infection.
The procedure uses a tiny fibre optic camera called an arthroscope to transmit images to a television screen. Images are relayed to the surgeon who can then make diagnoses.
Knee arthroscopy is performed under local or general anaesthesia. In most cases, patients can go home the same day. However, some arthroscopies require an overnight stay. After the operation, patients are dressed in a double tubigrip bandage. They should also wear a waterproof dressing over the wounds.
A negative binomial regression was conducted to measure the overall rate of knee arthroscopy. Rates were calculated per 100000 population aged 18 years and above.
To determine the most common knee arthroscopy, researchers studied data collected by the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC). The APDC contains mandatory data from all NSW hospitals.
For the study, researchers analysed data using a negative binomial regression model to account for overdispersion in the data. Using the Australian Classification of Health Intervention procedure codes, they identified participants undergoing knee arthroscopy.
The rate of knee arthroscopy in NSW was 334.0 per 100 000 in 2004. This rate is comparable to the rate in England, which was 150 per 100 000, and lower than the rate in the USA and Canada.
However, the rate of arthroscopy has not increased. Private health insurance rates in NSW increased from 52% in 2000 to 54% in 2008. These rates may have contributed to the steady rate of knee arthroscopy.
Artificial knees
Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which the knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint. It is a procedure that can be performed in about 24 hours and can result in an improved quality of life.
This procedure can be used to treat osteoarthritis, a condition that causes degeneration of the cartilage in the knee joint. In this case, the surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage, which will be replaced with an artificial joint.
After the surgery, patients will undergo a few weeks of rehabilitation, which will include physiotherapy and outpatient exercises. Patients will be given medication to make them comfortable. During this time, they should avoid pounding their knees.
The surgical procedure can be done under anaesthesia, and patients will be given blood-thinning drugs to minimize the risk of complications. Antibiotics are also prescribed to help prevent infections.
The surgeon will make an incision of up to 30 cm. A tourniquet will be placed around the upper thigh to help reduce bleeding during the surgery. X-rays will be taken to ensure the correct positioning of the joint.
The prosthesis will be inserted, and a drainage tube will be placed in the knee. An x-ray will be taken the day after the surgery to confirm the optimal placement of the knee prosthesis.
The knee may take several days to heal. Physiotherapy will be conducted to improve movement, and the patient will be encouraged to walk as soon as possible. Rehabilitation usually lasts for about six months.
After surgery, the incision is closed with stitches. Bandages will be applied to the wound. If there is swelling or bruising, antibiotics may be prescribed.
