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

hip & knee replacement surgery

Dr. Walter is able to provide an expert opinion to patients with hip and knee problems, from those with arthritic joints requiring straightforward replacement to patients with complex anatomical joint problems (dysplasia) and specific conditions, such as Pagets disease and avascular necrosis. He also treats patients who require surgery when a primary joint replacement must be revised for reasons such as peri-prosthetic fracture, dislocation, infection and osteolysis.

The surgical procedures in which Dr. Walter specialises include:

• Hip Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)
• Hip Replacement
• Hip Resurfacing
• Hip Replacement Revision surgery, including complex cases involving extensive osteolysis and abnormal anatomy
• Knee Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)
• Knee Replacement
• Knee – Uni/Partial Knee Replacement
• Knee Replacement Revision surgery

Qualifications, memberships and appointments

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 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) 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. William L Walter is highly regarded for his outstanding research into hip replacement, which has been published in the most critically reviewed and prestigious international journals including the Journal of Arthoplasty 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 international meetings in Europe, America, Asia and Australia. These meetings present important opportunities to share ideas and experiences with like-minded surgeons from other countries and stay abreast of current thinking. In 2006, Dr. Walter was invited to become a member of the American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons, by the then President of the association, Dr William Hozack (Rothman Institute, Philadelphia). He is one of only two Australian members.

As the incoming President of ISTA (International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty - www.istaonline.org) in October of 2011, Dr. Walter will host a meeting of 400 or 500 international surgeons, engineers and industry professionals at a conference to be held in Sydney in October 2012.
 
Voluntarily, he assists the Australian Orthopaedic Association as a member of a training committee which facilitates the tuition of doctors undertaking the 5 year orthopaedic surgery training program.

Dr. Walter operates at the Mater Hospital, a private hospital located in Crows Nest/North Sydney.  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, is a keen kayaker and cyclist. He is married with three young sons. His sons greatly appreciate his exceptional ability to fix anything!

Dr. Walter: full curriculum vitae