Sydney knee specialists

[injuryupdate]

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list, but a guide to some of the specialists who see exclusively or mainly sports knee problems in Sydney. This list could admittedly go on for a lot longer, as the knee is a very popular area for surgery and most surgeons who operate anywhere will have a go at the knee if given a chance.

Knee surgeons:
Merv Cross, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Tim Musgrove, 111 Anzac Pde Kensington, 94375999
Leo Pinczewski, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
David Wood, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Sam Sorrenti, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Craig Waller, 160 Belmore Rd Randwick, 93995333
David Dickison, 165 Old Northern Rd Castle Hill, 96801315
Brett Courtenay, St. Vincent’s Clinic, 93326924
Neville Rowden, *02 9580 6066*
Myles Coolican, *02 9904 6099*

If anyone knows of others who are experts in knee injuries in Sydney, please add to the list (or start another thread if you know of others in a different state).

[injuryupdate]

Those of you viewing this post will notice a common address in the knee experts listed above: 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, which is where the North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre is situated. This is a fairly legendary practice and although it caters for sports injuries occurring throughout the body, the knee is the special area of focus for many of the surgeons practising there. Apparently about 5-10% of all knee surgery that is done in Australia is performed by one of the surgeons at this centre. Their website is:

http://www.nsosmc.com.au/

The centre was founded by Merv Cross, who was one of the first surgeons in Australia to subspecialise in a particular joint (the knee). Merv has his own website at:

http://www.kneeclinic.com.au/

Leo Pinczewski is Merv's senior partner, and although he spent much of 2003 on sabbatical, over the past five years or so, Leo has apparently performed more knee (ACL) reconstructions on patients than just about any other surgeon worldwide. His knee reconstructions are reknowned for being minimal painful and atraumatic, with most patients having day only surgery and leaving the hospital without crutches or a brace.

Another Sydney knee specialist worth mentioning is Jenny McConnell, who is a physiotherapist based in Mosman (working in a practice with Nicole Vass-Clements). Jenny is internationally reknowned for her conservative (i.e. non-surgical) management regime for anterior knee pain (patellofemoral pain), particularly the strengthening of VMO muscle and medial taping of the patella. She regularly has travelled to Europe and the USA to lecture on patellofemoral pain. Further info:

http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/apacd/infosheet/d16.htm

[injuryupdate]

To search for sports physicians in NSW, you can visit:

http://www.acsp.org.au/pages/publiclist.php?keyloc=NSW&submitButton=Find

To search for sports physiotherapists in NSW, you can visit:

https://apa.advsol.com.au/scriptcontent/fap_index.cfm?section=foryou

Neither of these have searches by areas of expertise, but both of them list areas of interest next to the practitioner.

[bloss]

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list, but a guide to some of the specialists who see exclusively or mainly sports knee problems in Sydney. This list could admittedly go on for a lot longer, as the knee is a very popular area for surgery and most surgeons who operate anywhere will have a go at the knee if given a chance.

Knee surgeons:
Merv Cross, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Tim Musgrove, 111 Anzac Pde Kensington, 94375999
Leo Pinczewski, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
David Wood, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Sam Sorrenti, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Craig Waller, 160 Belmore Rd Randwick, 93995333
David Dickison, 165 Old Northern Rd Castle Hill, 96801315
Brett Courtenay, St. Vincent’s Clinic, 93326924
Neville Rowden, *02 9580 6066*
Myles Coolican, L1, 445 Victoria Ave, Chatswood *02 9904 6099*
David Parker, L1, 445 Victoria Ave, Chatswood *02 9411 7700*
...Dr Coolican & Dr Parker website www.sydneyortho.com.au

If anyone knows of others who are experts in knee injuries in Sydney, please add to the list (or start another thread if you know of others in a different state)

[hhh]

My mail is that these dudes earn $2 million per year. Is that about right for a top surgeon?

[sydunisportsmed]

Not difficult to do the maths. Just say you only did knee arthroscopes, but you did 8 per session and operated 3 times per week and charged $1500 per operation. Just say you go to a few conferences so only operate 42 weeks per year. You have just pulled in $1.5 million per year + from arthroscopes. Sure, you might need to cop $120,000 per year in indemnity fees and pay some rent and pay for a P.A., but you are going to drag in some cash from consulting at $150 per patient to cover these things.

Obviously there will be surgeons less busy than this and some who charge no-gaps and 'only' get $800 per operation. Then there will be some big guns who are doing this many operations but charging even more than $1500 per procedure.

Incidentally, when you compare what CEOs of companies earn, what barristers get per hour, what public liabililty solicitors pull in, what you can earn at Mac Bank, what you can earn dealing ecstasy at nighclubs, then I don't think that the 'top' surgeons are by any means overpaid. If you are fixing knee joints in a lot of people per year and doing a great job for the most part, you are doing much more for society than many of those others listed above.

My gripe with the system is not what the 'gun' surgeons earn, but what the 'bad' surgeons earn. Dr. Jayant Patel was probably on a good wicket even in the public system and he was literally killing people. I hate it when I see patients who have paid $2 K out of pocket for an operation that they never should have had and they are worse off for the experience. When the cause is that a surgeon was too lazy to listen to the history or, worse still, that he was being opportunistic in recommending surgery just to keep his numbers flowing through, that's when you realise that the system is flawed.

In the years to come, and I can't tell you whether this will be 10 years hence or 50 years hence, the Medicare system will have decent follow-up for surgical results which will be available to all and sundry. When this happens, the really good surgeons will be charging more than double what they are now and they'll still be worth it. Hopefully some of the dodgy brothers who are currently milking the system will actually have their licences revoked when the stats show how bad their results actually are.

[injuryupdate]

Add to the above list of excessive money earners:
Stockbrokers (particularly super fund managers);
Pharmacists (who own their own licence to print money);
Real estate agents ($20000 for taking a couple of hours to buy or sell a house is better money than the orthopods);
Radiologists (particularly anyone who got the tip to buy an MRI scanner from Michael Wooldridge before these licences effectively became worth about $10 million each);
Descendants of George Adams (whose share of Tattersall's become worth more than $10 million each when the Kennett government introduced the poker machine duopoly into Victoria).

[injuryupdate]

The trial practitioners directory is now open for viewing at:

http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/practitioners.php

If you have any suggestions for adding clinics to this directory, please email: dan_redrup @ injuryupdate.com.au

[Unregistered]

Not difficult to do the maths. Just say you only did knee arthroscopes, but you did 8 per session and operated 3 times per week and charged $1500 per operation. Just say you go to a few conferences so only operate 42 weeks per year. You have just pulled in $1.5 million per year + from arthroscopes. Sure, you might need to cop $120,000 per year in indemnity fees and pay some rent and pay for a P.A., but you are going to drag in some cash from consulting at $150 per patient to cover these things.

Obviously there will be surgeons less busy than this and some who charge no-gaps and 'only' get $800 per operation. Then there will be some big guns who are doing this many operations but charging even more than $1500 per procedure.

Incidentally, when you compare what CEOs of companies earn, what barristers get per hour, what public liabililty solicitors pull in, what you can earn at Mac Bank, what you can earn dealing ecstasy at nighclubs, then I don't think that the 'top' surgeons are by any means overpaid. If you are fixing knee joints in a lot of people per year and doing a great job for the most part, you are doing much more for society than many of those others listed above.

My gripe with the system is not what the 'gun' surgeons earn, but what the 'bad' surgeons earn. Dr. Jayant Patel was probably on a good wicket even in the public system and he was literally killing people. I hate it when I see patients who have paid $2 K out of pocket for an operation that they never should have had and they are worse off for the experience. When the cause is that a surgeon was too lazy to listen to the history or, worse still, that he was being opportunistic in recommending surgery just to keep his numbers flowing through, that's when you realise that the system is flawed.

In the years to come, and I can't tell you whether this will be 10 years hence or 50 years hence, the Medicare system will have decent follow-up for surgical results which will be available to all and sundry. When this happens, the really good surgeons will be charging more than double what they are now and they'll still be worth it. Hopefully some of the dodgy brothers who are currently milking the system will actually have their licences revoked when the stats show how bad their results actually are.

I have to agree, they earn every penny they get, if it wasnt for these guys i wouldnt be walking, running and playing league again

[blindside]

doron sher at orthosports, randwick is another knee surgeon....

[Unregistered]

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list, but a guide to some of the specialists who see exclusively or mainly sports knee problems in Sydney. This list could admittedly go on for a lot longer, as the knee is a very popular area for surgery and most surgeons who operate anywhere will have a go at the knee if given a chance.

Knee surgeons:
Merv Cross, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Tim Musgrove, 111 Anzac Pde Kensington, 94375999
Leo Pinczewski, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
David Wood, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Sam Sorrenti, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Craig Waller, 160 Belmore Rd Randwick, 93995333
David Dickison, 165 Old Northern Rd Castle Hill, 96801315
Brett Courtenay, St. Vincent’s Clinic, 93326924
Neville Rowden, *02 9580 6066*
Myles Coolican, *02 9904 6099*

Michael Dixon, 111 Anzac Pde Kensington, 9663 5999

[Unregistered]

Had an arthroscope to remove medial meniscus. Went ok except for the wasting of VMO. Anyway, the reason i'm replying here, is if anyone needs a good physio (who definately helped me through some tough times with the kneee) try

Hunter St Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation
9477 3459 .

Fiona was the physio that did the biz for me, but there are about 4 of them there and they all seem pretty good.

[Unregistered]

Had an arthroscope to remove medial meniscus. Went ok except for the wasting of VMO. Anyway, the reason i'm replying here, is if anyone needs a good physio (who definately helped me through some tough times with the kneee) try

Hunter St Physiotherapy & Sports Rehabilitation
9477 3459 .

Fiona was the physio that did the biz for me, but there are about 4 of them there and they all seem pretty good. Thats at Hornsby lol

[Nicholas]

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list, but a guide to some of the specialists who see exclusively or mainly sports knee problems in Sydney. This list could admittedly go on for a lot longer, as the knee is a very popular area for surgery and most surgeons who operate anywhere will have a go at the knee if given a chance.

Knee surgeons:
Merv Cross, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Tim Musgrove, 111 Anzac Pde Kensington, 94375999
Leo Pinczewski, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
David Wood, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Sam Sorrenti, 286 Pacific Hwy Crows Nest, 94375999
Craig Waller, 160 Belmore Rd Randwick, 93995333
David Dickison, 165 Old Northern Rd Castle Hill, 96801315
Brett Courtenay, St. Vincent’s Clinic, 93326924
Neville Rowden, *02 9580 6066*
Myles Coolican, *02 9904 6099*

If anyone knows of others who are experts in knee injuries in Sydney, please add to the list (or start another thread if you know of others in a different state).

Tim Musgrove, Leo Pinczewski and Merv Cross are the top 3 knee surgeons in Sydney. Another great one is Dr Waller. I heard when one of my friends needed knee surgery, he went to him and helped him out. If you need a specialist and not a surgeon then go to John Orchard at Kensington. He is the Sydney Roosters club doctor, the admin on this site and the doctor for the NSW State of Origin team.

[zoggy66]

Dr.Rowden did both my recos's
He is at the "Hurstville Knee Clinic" great OS and great person, very personable

[Quinkin]

Bruce Caldwell at Crows Nest

[flickster99]

My OS was Dr David Hale at the SAN in Wahroonga

Physio is Malcolm Browne (ex Wallaby's and NSW Rugby physio) at the SAN clinic in Wahroonga - can't speak more highly of him.... They were treating 13 ACL repairs in December!!!


Flickster

[NickT]

Although I live in Melbourne now, I had my ACL reco done by Shane Waddell when I lived in Sydney 9 years ago.

He's in the Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery at RPA. Did a fantastic job!

Missenden Rd, Camperdown.

[kc012]

Dave Dickison in Castle Hill is a freakin champ.

One of the nicest, laid back and normal surgeons you'll ever meet.

Does a great job too and also works out of Dee Why on the Northern Beaches. (Where I'll be getting my second leg done for a full recon this Wednesday.

If you're in the area, i highly recommend him.

[deeKnee]

Any one know anything about Dr. Daniel Biggs? he is a knee and shoulder OS. I am planning on getting my MPFL repaired with him.

[kjwilkin]

Hi Deepa,

I would only go to a surgeon that specialises in knees, particularly patella problems.

Justin Roe and Merv Cross are meant to be very good with patella problems. You must find a surgeon that specialises in patella problems. It is so important. Can't stress it enough.

[deeKnee]

Thanks. I have taken an appointment with Justin Roe for next week

[dede23]

Gd luck with Roe. I saw him before i went to Cross (they work in the same builiding). I think each persons experiences are diff so i hope ur outcome of the appointment is what u want. He refused to treat my complex knee and felt i had to live with it- but my ACL recon was in the wrong position so i didnt have to live with it and in the middle of 2 stage recon..... its a very weird situation and something he should have picked up. BUT- dont get me wrong- he is meant to be a gr8 surgeon- just not the right one for me!! Mervyn Cross is a legend in the field of knees and very very glad i was strong enuf to demand a second opinion.......im well on my way to returning to work after 4yrs out as of yest. GD LUCK AND KEEP US IN THE LOOP OF HOW U GO!!!!!!!!

[kjwilkin]

Hi Dee,

Glad you added your opinion too as I've not seen either Roe or Cross, but know they are some of the best in Sydney for patella problems.

Deepa, it may be worth seeing Merv Cross as well. He is extremely experienced with patella problems and has a good reputation.

[deeKnee]

Thanks Dede and Wilkin!

So, I finally met Justin Roe this morning. He was really good. Very patient, answered all my questions and dint seem in a rush with is a rare quality in doctors! The result of his diagnosis was same as everyone else- raised patella, incorrect Q angle and surgery required. He pretty much laid it out to me saying it was upto me as to what i wanted-
Option1: MPFL repair and ITB- effective about about 20% chance of dislocation in the short term[This is what Dr. Danniel Biggs suggested]
Option 2: MPFL recon[hamstring graft] and ITB: again effective but about 10-15% chance of discloation in the short term [A leading ortho in India suggested this one]
Option 3: MPFL repair, ITB and Tibial Transfer to correct the Q angle- effective but only 5% chance of dislocation in the future. [This is what Dr. Bruce Caldwell suggested]

He pretty much said these are the options I have and I had to make up my mind as to which one I would want to do. He did mention that in the long term, all these surgeries are effective if care will be taken during the short term.

I am inclined towards the MPFL recon and ITB as I have read that a strong MPFL can over come any bony malalignment issues. Also, I am not an athlete or a sportsperson. My livelihood doesnt depend on it. If my Q angle was really bad, he was recommended the third option to me. Plus, with MPFL recon, he said he can get both the knees done in one day and wont be required to stay in the hospital. He also believes in starting the physio within a couple of days after the surgery.

I am done with taking opinions! Dr Bruce, Dr Justin Roe and my ortho in India are all very good surgoens with expertize in knee instability. It is is decision time now!!

Option 2 or Option 3?
If option 2, should I do both knees together?

[kjwilkin]

Hi Deepa,

My suggestion would be to go with Justin Roe. Sounds like he was very thorough and knows his stuff. I would tend to go with option 2, but that is something you need to decide.

I've had a MPFL reco and worked really well for me.

My suggestion is to get one knee done at a time. I wouldn't have both done at once. My knee surgeon wouldn't do that on me. He wanted to get one right first before looking at the second one.

Let us know what you decide.

[deeKnee]

Yep, thats what I am thinking at the moment.

However, have you had any other knee surgeries such as TTT or lateral release b4 you had the MPFL done? What are your thoughts on getting both the knees done together?

[deeKnee]

Just read your suggestion on doing one knee at a time

[kjwilkin]

Hi Deepa,

I've had lateral releases on both knees too. Think there are now better operations than the lateral release. I ended up with medial instability of both knees from the lateral release about 9 years after I had them done.

Also had a trochleoplasty on my left knee which has worked really well. Waiting to see whether I can have a trochleoplasty on my right knee.

Before I had my trochleoplasty last year my surgeon thought I would have been a candidate for the TTT until I had the CT scans, which showed I wasn't a candidate for it.

Definitely wouldn't recommend getting both knees done at once. My left knee has needed a lot more surgery than my right knee as it didn't respond the same way.

[deeKnee]

Ahh ok.

If i go for the distal re-alignment which is pretty much TTT, i will also be doing the LR and repairing the MPFL. It wont be done in isolation.

I will make a decision by the end of this week and book in for surgery. I am out of pocket nearly 2k for each knee even after private cover which sucks! But if they are fixed and I can get back to everything I enjoy doing, then its worth it.

[kjwilkin]

Hi Deepa,

Good luck in making your decision.

What did Dr Roe said would be the best in your case to do ?

[deeKnee]

Its been a tough couple of weeks! Too much thinking!

Dr. Roe said he would suggest MPFL recon and ITB or the MPFL repair,ITB and distal realignment to me. In the long run he said they both would be effective. But in the short term, the chance of a dislocation is higher with MPFL recon. I guess I will just have to continue being careful. Ill keep wearing a knee cap or a small brace when I do any sport or at gym.

I have decided to do the MPFL recon with Dr. Justin Roe. I will get it done in the last week of june. He said the risk of infection is low with MPFL recon and said there was no problem in doing both knees together. My family ortho in india also said its a common practice to do both knees together. While its hard for the first couple of weeks, I can recover from both together. My mom is taking time off and coming down too take care of me from overseas. If I do it in one go, she will only need to make one trip. I also want to start a job soon as I finish my studies in June. So there are a lot of factors to be considered. I will go and see my physio and ask him if he has helped anyone who got both their knees done together.

So that's where i am at currently! Ill keep you informed. Thanks for all the advise. I owe you a beer for recommending Dr. roe to me.

[pingtimeout]

This is a great thread!

So I've done my ACL, a full thickness anterior cruciate ligament tear to be exact.

Has anyone had experience with Dr Sam Sorrenti ? I've had a consultation with him and he's given me a quote etc. Seems like a nice guy but was wondering what his track record is like etc.

[deeKnee]

Hey guys,

Just thought Ill let u know that I am booked for my MPFL reconstruction for both knees on the 1st of July with Dr. Justin Roe in Sydney. I am a bit nervous about how am I going to manage, but I cant wait to get it done and recover well. I will be seesing Kingley Gibson for my physio starting from the day after my surgery.

Does anyone have any tips or advise for me?

[deeKnee]

Hey,

I just thought I'll post an update on my bilateral MPFL recon. I am doing pretty well according to my PT Kingsley Gibson. He is amazing. I'll recommend him to anyone looking for a PT. He is based at the Sport Medicine Center in Sydney Olympic Park.

I can take a few steps without my crutches and I am full weight bearing at the moment. So far the recovery has turned out to be much better than my expectations as I have stopped taking pain killers.

[pingtimeout]

I had my knee recon on 22nd June with Dr Sam Sorrenti. So far 3 weeks out I am walking without crutches and pretty much full weight bearing. There is still a bit of swelling but apart from that I can do all the physio pretty easily.

[knie]

Hi all,

I have a full thickness ACL tear and a 2cm medial meniscus tear in my left knee. From reading the previous posts, seems that the best surgeon around is Merv Cross. Should I consult him for my surgery?

Thanks in advance.

[dede23]

Hi knie- I had my recon with Merv on the 4th of June- although im just starting to put weight on 6wks after the op- i wld recomend him any day... He kept me in a 90 degree locked position with a brace as mine is the 3rd recon and he apparently relocated my knee cap about 2cm downward- needed it later down track so i dont need another op later on. I had a fall and due to it beng it in a brace, it prevented a rupture to new graft- thanks to dr crosses skill!!! His opinion is highly regarded and he is very matter of fact and its BLACK or WHITE, no grey areas. He wil tell u what he thinks and its ur decision as to go ahead. Ge the consult and decide afterwards. Get ur referal and give him a go. If ur not happy, get second opinion if u dont think its right for u but he is on the ball so. Gd luck!!