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Mr Clayton Chan - Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon

Private Service, Orthopaedics, Spinal

Description

What is Orthopaedics?
 
This is an area that deals with conditions of the musculo-skeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The speciality covers a range of different types of conditions starting with congenital (conditions which children are born with) through to degenerative (conditions relating to the wearing out of joints). The field of orthopaedics covers trauma where bones are broken or injuries are sustained to limbs.
Other conditions that sit under the spectrum of orthopaedics are metabolic conditions, neurological and inflammatory conditions.

Consultants

Referral Expectations

You need to bring to your appointment:

1.       Any letters or reports from your doctor or hospital.
2.       Any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports.
3.       All medicines you are taking including herbal and natural remedies.
4.       Your pharmaceutical entitlement card.
5.       Your ACC number, if you have one.

Procedures / Treatments

Spinal Surgery

Herniated Discs Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling. Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered. Discectomy This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc. Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments. Laminectomy or Laminotomy These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra. In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina. By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required. Spinal Fusion In this procedure, individual vertebrae are fused together so that no movement can occur between the vertebrae and hence pain is reduced. Spinal fusion may be required for disc herniation in the cervical region of the spine as well as for some cases of vertebral fracture and to prevent pain-inducing movements.

Herniated Discs

Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling.

Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered.

Discectomy
This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc.

Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves.

Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments.

Laminectomy or Laminotomy
These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra.
In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina.
By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required.

Spinal Fusion
In this procedure, individual vertebrae are fused together so that no movement can occur between the vertebrae and hence pain is reduced. Spinal fusion may be required for disc herniation in the cervical region of the spine as well as for some cases of vertebral fracture and to prevent pain-inducing movements.
 

Joint Replacement

For elderly patients joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat damaged joints from wearing out, arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces normally made from metal (chromium cobalt alloy, titanium), plastic (high density polyethelene) or ceramic which act as alternate bearing surfaces for the damaged joint. These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days and followed by a significant period of rehabilitation. The hospital has several ways of approaching the procedure for replacement and the specifics for the procedure will be covered at the time of assessment and booking of surgery. Occasionally blood transfusions are required; if you have some concerns raise this with your surgeon during consultation.

For elderly patients joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat damaged joints from wearing out, arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces normally made from metal (chromium cobalt alloy, titanium), plastic (high density polyethelene) or ceramic which act as alternate bearing surfaces for the damaged joint.
These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days and followed by a significant period of rehabilitation. The hospital has several ways of approaching the procedure for replacement and the specifics for the procedure will be covered at the time of assessment and booking of surgery.
 
Occasionally blood transfusions are required; if you have some concerns raise this with your surgeon during consultation.
Hip Joint Replacement Surgery

Hip Joint Replacement An incision (cut) is made on the side of the thigh to allow the surgeon access to the hip joint. The diseased and damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with smooth, artificial metal ‘ball’ and plastic ‘socket’ parts. For more information about hip replacement surgery please click here.

Hip Joint Replacement
An incision (cut) is made on the side of the thigh to allow the surgeon access to the hip joint. The diseased and damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with smooth, artificial metal ‘ball’ and plastic ‘socket’ parts.
 

For more information about hip replacement surgery please click here.

Knee Joint Replacement Surgery

Knee Joint Replacement An incision (cut) is made on the front of the knee to allow the surgeon access to the knee joint. The damaged and painful areas of the thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bone (tibia), including the knee joint, are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts. For more information about knee replacement surgery please click here.

Knee Joint Replacement
An incision (cut) is made on the front of the knee to allow the surgeon access to the knee joint. The damaged and painful areas of the thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bone (tibia), including the knee joint, are removed and replaced with metal and plastic parts.
 

For more information about knee replacement surgery please click here.

Parking

There is ample free off street parking for my patients at each clinic

Contact Details

Shakespeare Orthopaedic Institute
Suite 1, 209 Shakespeare Road
Milford, Auckland 0620
New Zealand

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Street Address

Shakespeare Orthopaedic Institute
Suite 1, 209 Shakespeare Road
Milford, Auckland 0620
New Zealand

This page was last updated at 9:46AM on July 8, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Mr Clayton Chan - Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon.