A/Prof. William L Walter
MBBS (Syd), FRACS (Orth), FAOrthA, PhD (surgery)
Associate Professor

Hip & knee surgery

Dr. Walter is able to provide an expert opinion to patients with hip and knee problems, from those with conditions requiring arthroscopic procedures and straightforward joint replacement surgery, to patients with very complex conditions.

Arthroscopic surgery

Many patients who come to see Dr Walter have hip and knee problems which do not require joint replacement, but can significantly benefit from arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery. These procedures can help to rectify painful conditions and may even delay the future need for joint replacement surgery.

Joint replacement

Dr Walter performs many hundreds of these procedures each year. He uses both the anterior approach and posterior approach and we mention it here, simply because many patients ask about this. Dr Walter can certainly give an opinion about which approach and implant is best for you.

Complex revision surgery

In addition to straightforward hip and knee surgery, GPs and specialists commonly refer patients who require hip revision surgery, including the most difficult revision cases. Revision surgery can be necessary where there is peri-prosthetic fracture, dislocation, infection, osteolysis or other reasons (e.g. ASR recall). Dr Walter also handles patients with complex problems relating to abnormal anatomy (displaysia) or rare conditions such as Pagets disease.

Procedures performed by Dr Walter

• Hip Arthroscopy
• Hip Replacement – anterior or posterior approach
• Hip Resurfacing
• Hip Replacement Revision surgery, including complex cases involving extensive osteolysis and abnormal anatomy.
• Knee Arthroscopy
• Knee Replacement
• Knee – Uni/Partial Knee Replacement
• Knee Replacement Revision surgery

Qualifications, memberships and appointments

• MBBS – University of Sydney
• PhD Surgery - University of NSW
• FRACS - Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• AOA - Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
• Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics, Mater Hospital, North Sydney.
• Associate Professor – University of New South Wales
• Associate Professor and Clinical Discipline Leader, School of Medicine – University of Notre Dame.
• President of ISTA (International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty)

Dr. Walter is a member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and the Arthroplasty Society of Australia. He completed his medical degree at the University of Sydney in 1992 and qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon through the AOA orthopaedic surgery training program. Following this, Dr. Walter completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstructive Surgery at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, where he became familiar with the techniques of some of America’s great hip & knee surgeons, including Dr Thomas Sculco, Dr Eduardo Salvati, Dr Russ Windsor, Dr Richard Laskin, Dr Steve Haas, Dr Paul Pellici and others. His experience includes over 10 years working alongside his father, eminent Australian surgeon, Dr William K Walter.

He completed a PhD (surgery) through the University of New South Wales in 2006. He accepted an appointment as Associate Professor and Clinical Discipline Leader in Surgery for the University of Notre Dame in 2010 (Mater Campus). Dr. Walter is also an Associate Professor with the University of NSW; he is currently supervising a PhD student.

Dr Walter is the current Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Mater Hospital.

In 2011, Dr Walter was appointed as the President of the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty (ISTA). This is an important international society, which brings surgeons, engineers and industry together at an annual conference to examine and discuss new technologies and techniques in joint-replacement. This meeting of around 500+ key professionals from the world-over takes place in a different city each year. In 2012, the conference will be hosted from 3 – 6 October by Dr Walter in Sydney. Further information is available at www.istaonline.org .

Research

Dr. William L Walter is highly regarded for his research into hip replacement, which has been published in the most critically reviewed and prestigious international journals including the Journal of Arthroplasty and Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. A list published works and abstracts can be found on this website at www.sydneyhipandkneesurgeons.com.au/published-works.html. Dr. Walter is often invited to present his research at significant international meetings in Europe, America, China, India and Australia. These meetings present important opportunities to share ideas and experiences with like-minded surgeons from other countries and stay abreast of current techniques and technologies.

Dr Walter and the Mater Hospital

Dr. Walter operates at the Mater Hospital, a private hospital located in Crows Nest/North Sydney. The Mater is well equipped to handle patients who require a simple day-surgery procedure and is an excellent facility for those who need to stay several days in hospital. This hospital is currently where the greatest number of joint replacements in Australia are performed. Thus it is particularly well equipped to handle patients needing joint replacement surgery. The experience of the nurses and other medical staff in theatres, and on the wards at the Mater, is a major reason why Dr. Walter chooses to operate there. Hip replacement and knee replacement surgery leads to a very successful outcome for the increasing number of patients with debilitating arthritis and other conditions. Dr. Walter enjoys seeing his patients do well from their surgery and return to an active and fulfilling lifestyle.On a personal note, Dr. Walter loves the ocean and is a keen kayaker. He is married with three young sons. His sons greatly appreciate his exceptional ability to fix anything!

Dr. Walter: full curriculum vitae