Choosing an
orthopaedic surgeon
in Adelaide

Why the choice matters

Total hip and knee replacement surgery has high overall success rates in Australia. But "success" is not uniform — outcomes vary by the accuracy of implant placement, the technique used, the implant selected, and the quality of pre-operative planning. These factors are directly influenced by the surgeon you choose.

Unlike many surgical fields where complications are either immediately apparent or entirely unrelated to technical execution, joint replacement outcomes often show themselves gradually — how the joint feels at six months, whether normal movement returns, how the implant performs at ten or fifteen years. The decisions made in the operating theatre have long consequences.

The Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOANJRR) tracks revision rates — the rate at which joint replacements require reoperation — by surgeon volume and implant type. Surgeons who perform a higher volume of joint replacement procedures in a dedicated practice consistently show lower revision rates. This is one of the clearest pieces of objective evidence available to patients making this decision.

Qualifications to verify

In Australia, orthopaedic surgeons are trained through a structured program overseen by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Completion of this training and passing the required examinations results in the qualification FRACS (Orthopaedic Surgery) — Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgery.

All practising orthopaedic surgeons must be registered with AHPRA — the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The AHPRA register is publicly searchable at ahpra.gov.au and allows anyone to verify a practitioner's registration, specialist endorsement, and whether any conditions are placed on their registration.

• FRACS (Orthopaedic Surgery) — the primary specialist qualification for orthopaedic surgeons in Australia
• AHPRA registration — mandatory for all practising medical practitioners in Australia; searchable online
• Fellowship training — additional post-FRACS subspecialty fellowships in specific areas (hip and knee replacement, robotic surgery) indicate further dedicated training beyond the base qualification
• Hospital appointments — operating privileges at accredited private hospitals require credentialling, adding an additional layer of verified competence

Subspecialty focus versus general practice

Orthopaedic surgery covers an enormous scope of practice — fracture care, spine surgery, shoulder and upper limb, sports injuries, paediatric conditions, foot and ankle, and joint replacement. Most trained orthopaedic surgeons cover several of these areas. A subspecialist limits their practice to a narrow field.

For total hip and knee replacement specifically, subspecialty focus has practical implications:

• Volume. A surgeon who operates exclusively on hips and knees performs that same procedure far more frequently than a general orthopaedic surgeon who divides their time across multiple areas. Volume correlates with both technical consistency and complication recognition.
• Implant knowledge. A subspecialist accumulates deeper knowledge of the implant systems they use — their characteristics, limitations, and long-term performance data — compared to a surgeon who uses a wider range of implants across different procedure types.
• Technique refinement. Surgical techniques in hip and knee replacement continue to evolve. A subspecialist is more likely to be actively engaged with current evidence, attending dedicated joint replacement conferences and surgical training programs.

Surgical technique and philosophy

Not all joint replacement surgery is technically identical. The approach used, the alignment strategy applied, and the planning tools employed vary significantly between surgeons. These choices affect what recovery looks like and how the joint performs over its lifetime.

Hip replacement: surgical approach

The most commonly discussed distinction in hip replacement is the surgical approach — specifically, direct anterior approach (DAA) versus posterior approach. The DAA accesses the hip joint from the front, between muscle groups, without cutting or detaching any muscle from the femur or pelvis. The posterior approach requires detachment of short external rotator muscles at the back of the hip, which must then reattach during healing.

The practical implications of the DAA include reduced post-operative pain, faster early mobilisation, and elimination of the traditional hip dislocation precautions (restrictions on bending and crossing the legs) that accompany posterior approach surgery. Ask specifically whether the surgeon uses the anterior approach and whether it would be suitable for your anatomy.

Knee replacement: alignment strategy

In knee replacement, the key technical distinction is alignment philosophy. Mechanical alignment — the traditional approach — positions the implant to a standardised angle regardless of the patient's individual anatomy. Kinematic alignment is a more individualised technique that restores the implant position to match the patient's own pre-arthritic anatomy, respecting their individual joint line and ligament tensions.

The goal of kinematic alignment is a knee that functions more naturally post-operatively — one that feels like the patient's own knee rather than a standardised mechanical device. Ask your surgeon which approach they use and how they plan implant position before surgery.

Pre-operative planning

Modern joint replacement surgery increasingly uses pre-operative CT scans and three-dimensional planning software to determine the optimal implant size, position, and alignment before the patient enters the operating theatre. Some surgeons use patient-specific technology — custom cutting guides manufactured from pre-operative imaging — to execute the planned position precisely during surgery. Ask whether your surgeon uses pre-operative planning tools and what information they use to determine implant positioning.

Hospital, team, and environment

Joint replacement surgery takes place in a hospital environment, and the quality of that environment matters. Modern private hospitals purpose-built for orthopaedic surgery provide dedicated theatres, specialised nursing care, and infection control protocols that have a direct bearing on outcomes.

Questions worth asking about the surgical environment:

• Which hospital does the surgeon operate at, and what are its infection rates for joint replacement surgery?
• Is the hospital accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)?
• Does the theatre have a laminar flow system (a ventilation system designed to minimise infection risk in joint replacement theatres)?
• Is there a dedicated orthopaedic nursing and physiotherapy team?

Your private health fund should cover approved hospitals. Confirm with the surgeon's rooms which hospitals they operate at and that your fund covers those facilities before your admission date.

The consultation: what to expect and ask

The initial consultation is your opportunity to assess the surgeon as much as it is their opportunity to assess your joint. A thorough consultation should include a review of your imaging, a clinical examination, an explanation of surgical and non-surgical options, and time to ask questions. If a consultation feels rushed or your questions are not addressed, that is useful information.

A practical checklist of questions to bring to a first orthopaedic consultation:

• →How many hip or knee replacements do you perform each year?
• →Is joint replacement your subspecialty focus, or do you cover a broader scope of practice?
• →Which surgical approach do you use for hip replacement, and why?
• →Which alignment philosophy do you use for knee replacement?
• →Do you use pre-operative CT planning or patient-specific technology?
• →What implant system do you use, and why?
• →Will you personally perform every part of the surgery, or is any component delegated to a registrar?
• →What is the expected recovery timeline for someone with my profile?
• →What are the realistic risks for me specifically?

You are entitled to ask all of these questions. A surgeon who is confident in their practice will welcome them.

Frequently asked questions