Orthopaedic surgery

Whether it's for knees, hips, hands, arms, legs or back, our orthopaedic services provide care from pre-surgery through to rehabilitation to get you moving.

Caregiver assisting an elderly patient by holding their arm whilst they walk using the parallel bars for assistance in a rehabilitation room.

Orthopaedic surgery treats conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system: bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

You may need care to get you moving after sporting injuries such as broken bones or ligament repair, or to reduce pain in your joints caused by wear and tear over time such as hip and knee replacements.

Orthopaedic care includes services for:

knee and hip disorders and ligament reconstructions
shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand problems
joint replacements and reconstructions for hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist, foot and ankle
foot and ankle disorders
sports-related injury management
spinal injuries
paediatric orthopaedics.

Our highly skilled surgeons and caregivers use the latest techniques and equipment to improve your movement and ability to participate in activities you enjoy.

We provide care from evaluation and management, through to surgery and rehabilitation to help you return to your daily activities as quickly as possible.

Benefits of our orthopaedic surgery services

Advantages of our orthopaedic surgery services:

all your orthopaedic care needs from evaluation to rehabilitation
access to a multidisciplinary team, including leading orthopaedic surgeons
efficient and up-to-date theatres
forward thinking orthopaedic developments in research, and development.

These benefits depend on your particular circumstances and require you to fully participate in necessary before and after care and management. You should consult a specialist in this area before deciding whether surgery is suitable for you.

Orthopaedics at St John of God Bendigo Hospital

Our orthopaedic surgeons at St John of God Bendigo Hospital provide comprehensive care for a range of orthopaedic conditions, and many have multiple sub speciality areas of interest.

You can browse our orthopaedic surgeons through our Find a specialist search.

At St John of God Bendigo Hospital, you have access to the latest and most up-to-date equipment and surgical techniques available.

This includes access to the Zimmer Biomet Knee Robot for total and partial knee replacements. The hospital was the first in the world to complete a total knee replacement surgery as a part of a clinical trial using the robot.

You will have your surgery in our our recently renovated theatres, and recover in our new theatre recovery area.

During your stay with us at St John of God Bendigo Hospital you will also have the choice of staying in a private room with ensuite while being cared for by our expert team of compassionate caregivers.

Knowing what to expect when you come to hospital for orthopaedic surgery can help you and your family and carers prepare for your upcoming hospital stay.

Find out more about what to expect throughout your hospital stay:

After your orthopaedic surgery, you will return to your hospital room where your rehabilitation will begin.

Our multidisciplinary team are focused on helping you manage your pain and improve your range of movement.

At St John of God Bendigo Hospital you have access to a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services, including our hydrotherapy pool and dedicated rehabilitation gym. Our physiotherapists, occupational therapists and exercise physiologists care for you while you are an inpatient and for ongoing care after you have returned home.

Your orthopaedic surgeon and our multidisciplinary team work together to ensure you have the right care you need to get you moving.

Our home visiting nurses give you access to hospital-style nursing care in the comfort of your own home, helping you as you recover after surgery.

Our nurses can provide care to help you recover with support in the comfort of your own home. Depending on your needs, their care can include wound dressing and administration of medications including IV antibiotics and anticoagulant therapies.

Orthopaedic blogs

Costs and fee payment options

If you have private health insurance, the costs for your hospital stay and specialist fees may be covered by your health fund, based on your level of cover.

If you don’t have private health insurance, you can access treatment at a St John of God Health Care hospital through our self-funded care option.

When you use your private health insurance, you get benefits that include access to St John of God Health Care private hospital facilities, your choice of specialist, minimal wait times, and with an eligible policy most of your hospital costs can be covered by your private health insurance fund.

You should contact your health insurer to understand your level of cover, and whether your policy is subject to additional fees such as a hospital excess or other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses. Your health insurer will also be able to assist in understanding if you will have doctor, radiology and pathology out-of-pocket costs.

Learn more about the benefits of private health insurance.

Patients who don’t have private health insurance can choose to access St John of God Health Care private hospital services and treatments by paying fees themselves.

By accessing our self-funded care option, you’ll be able to avoid wait times and have your surgery or treatment with your choice of specialist at a St John of God Health Care private hospital.

Learn more and enquire about the self-funded care option.
Call 1300 940 199 to get a quote for self-funded treatment.

If you have received an invoice for an expense associated with treatment from a St John of God Health Care service you can pay your bill online.

Pay my bill.