Knee surgery
Expert care and advanced techniques to restore your mobility and improve your quality of life.
What is knee replacement?
Knee replacement surgery today represents substantial improvements in implants, surgical techniques and aftercare with most patients achieving good outcomes for improved knee flexibility, pain relief and overall mobility. Recent advances in surgical techniques have included the integration of robotic devices combined with computer navigation platforms to assist the surgeon with pre-operative assessment and planning, implant positioning, balancing of soft tissue tension and achieving more accurate lower limb alignment.
In spite of these advances, the robot is not autonomous and the ultimate responsibility for the surgery literally lies in the hands of the surgeon. Thus, as with all surgery, it remains an art form, where - over time - the surgeon develops an understanding or “feel” for an individual patient’s needs and their particular knee issues along with what works well and what doesn’t, before deciding what’s needed to bring all the pieces together to create a harmonious knee replacement.
Dr Gallagher performed his first knee replacement in 1996 with standard instrumented technique using traditional alignment rods to calculate the necessary angles to perform bony cuts and restore alignment but over the last 3 decades he has embraced the technological advances available and was the first surgeon in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere to use 3D patient specific instrumentation to perform total knee replacement in 2008. Dr Gallagher was also one of the first surgeons to use an intraoperative pressure transducer spacer insert to accurately calculate and then balance the soft tissue tension in extension and throughout range of knee flexion via Bluetooth feedback to a computer monitor.
Presently, Dr Gallagher is trained and certified in the use of 3 different robotic knee replacement systems including MAKO, ROSA and CORI and feels it is a very useful tool for real time feedback during surgery to confirm the implant size and position, calculating the soft tissue tension around the knee as well as the resultant knee stability, flexibility and overall lower limb alignment. This combination of both experience and technology in Dr Gallagher’s practice has allowed for more reliable good outcomes with lower likelihood of outlier results and better likelihood of a well functioning knee replacement tailored to the individual’s anatomy and pathology.
It is important to note though, that whilst robotic assisted surgery holds much promise, some of it is still as yet not scientifically proven and even though many of Dr Gallagher’s surgeries are performed with robotic assisted technique, for some patients it is either not necessary or contra-indicated due to patient specific factors (osteoporosis, obesity, medical comorbidities) and more traditional techniques are still used in specific cases with good results.
Dr Gallagher recognizes that each individual patient and their arthritic knee is different and is able to advise what options are available for each patient based upon their knee pathology, their medical comorbidities and over 22 years of experience performing knee replacement surgery. In addition to using best practice techniques and technological advances, Dr Gallagher uses a small incision approach with MIS (minimally invasive surgery) technique, creating a mobile soft tissue window around the knee joint, in order to minimize the length of the incision and help protect the soft tissue envelope from surgical trauma to assist with wound healing and this combined with use of a rapid rehabilitation approach, with patients undergoing physiotherapy twice a day, helps patients to regain their mobility and flexibility at their optimal rate.
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
Dr John Gallagher
With over 30 years of orthopaedic experience and more than two decades focused exclusively on knee surgery, Dr. John Gallagher is one of Brisbane's most experienced knee replacement specialists. Since founding the Queensland Knee Surgery Clinic in 2006, he has helped thousands of patients reclaim mobility and independence through precise, tailored care.
Dr. Gallagher's expertise stems from exceptional training. After graduating from Queensland University in 1993, he commenced his orthopaedic career in 1996 and finished his training in 2002 under the President of the Australian Knee Society. For the last 22 years, since 2003, Dr. Gallagher has exclusively performed knee surgery only and undertook 3 years of further subspecialist knee surgery training with Presidents of 3 world renowned societies – the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM), the American Knee Society (AKS) and the British Knee Society (BASK).
The combination of Dr. Gallagher's extensive experience in knee replacement surgery over the last 3 decades, his use of state of the art technology including robotic assistance and computer navigation along with personalised care and clear communication helps to optimise every patient's surgical journey.
Under Dr. Gallagher's leadership, Queensland Knee Surgery Clinic has earned a reputation amongst his patients for quality care and reliable outcomes.
How do our knee surgeries work?
Consultation
Your journey begins with a thorough assessment of you and your knees. During your initial consultations, Dr. John Gallagher and his experienced team will take a comprehensive medical history, conduct a physical examination and review your imaging which will include weight bearing x-rays and an MRI. We then take the time to explain your diagnosis, the natural history of your condition and the treatment options including non operative and operative pathways and answer any questions you may have.
.avif)
Surgery
On the day of surgery, our team ensures you are fully informed and prepared. Dr. Gallagher uses state of the art technology including robotic assistance and computer navigated implant sizing and positioning to improve accuracy with implant placement and lower limb alignment. Small incision and soft tissue balancing technique is employed to assist patients to regain their mobility and flexibility at their optimal speed. Your procedure will be performed at Brisbane Private Hospital which is co-located with the Queensland Knee Surgery Clinic rooms.
.avif)
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is a key part of ensuring a successful outcome following knee replacement surgery and we are with you every step of the way. Most patients will spent 3 - 4 days in the Orthopaedic Ward under Dr. Gallagher's care, following which most patients are able to discharge home or may choose the option of a short stay in the Rehabilitation Ward of the Brisbane Private Hospital. We provide a clear rehabilitation plan, including ongoing follow up appointments with Dr. Gallagher and our in house physiotherapist Robert Godbolt, so you can feel confident about your progress and recovery.
