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Mr Dean Schluter - Orthopaedic Surgeon

Private Service, Orthopaedics

Today

Description

My scope of practice primarily consists of assessment and treatment of:

Conditions of the Hip:

  • Primary hip replacement
  • Revision hip replacement

 

Knee Arthritis and Sports Injuries

  • Primary knee replacement where I have an interest in computer assisted surgery
  • Unicompartment knee replacement
  • Revision knee replacement
  • Knee arthroscopy
  • ACL reconstruction
  • Osteotomies around the knee
  • Patella stabilisation

 

Foot and Ankle Conditions

  • Ankle stabilisation
  • Ankle arthroscopy
  • Ankle fusion and ankle replacement
  • Hallux valgus correction and bunion surgery

Consultants

Referral Expectations

Please contact my secretary, Sue Nowak for an appointment (09) 484 0040.

I have clinics at:

  • Southern Cross Hospital North Harbour in Wairau Road
  • Silverdale Medical Centre, 7 Polarity Rise in Silverdale

Please advise Sue of your ACC number when making the appointment, if applicable. 

You need to bring with you:

1.      A letter of referral from your doctor, or have one faxed to (09) 929 3170.

2.      Bring X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports. Most images can be viewed online but in case they can't please bring a disc with them on it, or the films. If you don't have the disc try to remember which company took the x-rays: ARG, TRG, Mercy, Horizon, Ascot, SRG or Hibiscus.

3.      A list of all medicines you are taking, including herbal and natural remedies.

4.      Discharge summaries from any recent hospital admissions.

5       If you have had any surgery on the symptomatic area before, please bring a copy of the operation note or at least find out the name of the surgeon and where and when the surgery was done.

Hours

Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

For appointments from 8:30am - 5pm please contact my secretary Sue on (09) 484 0040. I am contactable for urgent calls via the Southern Cross (09) 443 2266 or North Shore Hospitals (09) 486 8920 switchboards.

Procedures / Treatments

Joint Replacement - Hip, Knee And Ankle

Total hip joint replacement is a very successful operation for hip arthritis secondary to degeneration of the cartilage due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or rarer conditions such as avascular necrosis and trauma. It is increasingly performed through smaller incisions, where appropriate, which can speed recovery. In order to prolong the lifespan of the commonly used prostheses, different bearing surfaces can be used for younger patients rather than the traditional metal head & polyethylene liner. These are metal on metal bearings (as used in hip resurfacing) or ceramic on ceramic. These produce less wear particles, thereby reducing the risk of loosening of the prosthesis in the long term. Total knee joint replacement is a very successful operation for treatment of knee arthritis secondary to cartilage degeneration from trauma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to resurfacing the degenerate compartments, it corrects the varus or valgus alignment of the limb so that the weight bearing axis passes from the centre of the hip to the centre of the ankle through the centre of the knee replacement at the end of the procedure, prolonging the life of the implant. The alignment is corrected by the use of the bone cuts and the accuracy of the bone cuts is increased with Computer Navigation. This also enables the surgeon to check the accuracy of the cuts after they are made which isn't possible with the traditional jigs. Unicompartment knee replacement is used to replace the degenerate compartment only (usually medial) in patients with less deformity and less severe changes, which has the advantage of a smaller incision, quicker recovery and usually better postoperative flexion. It also enables easier revision if this is required in the future. Total ankle joint replacement is indicated in selected patients with ankle arthritis who do not have significant deformity and if there is evidence of arthritis elsewhere in the foot such as the subtalar joint. This therefore avoids stressing these arthritic joints more which would occur with stiffening of the ankle with a fusion.

Total hip joint replacement is a very successful operation for hip arthritis secondary to degeneration of the cartilage due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or rarer conditions such as avascular necrosis and trauma. It is increasingly performed through smaller incisions, where appropriate, which can speed recovery. In order to prolong the lifespan of the commonly used prostheses, different bearing surfaces can be used for younger patients rather than the traditional metal head & polyethylene liner. These are metal on metal bearings (as used in hip resurfacing) or ceramic on ceramic. These produce less wear particles, thereby reducing the risk of loosening of the prosthesis in the long term.

Total knee joint replacement is a very successful operation for treatment of knee arthritis secondary to cartilage degeneration from trauma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to resurfacing the degenerate compartments, it corrects the varus or valgus alignment of the limb so that the weight bearing axis passes from the centre of the hip to the centre of the ankle through the centre of the knee replacement at the end of the procedure, prolonging the life of the implant. The alignment is corrected by the use of the bone cuts and the accuracy of the bone cuts is increased with Computer Navigation. This also enables the surgeon to check the accuracy of the cuts after they are made which isn't possible with the traditional jigs.

Unicompartment knee replacement is used to replace the degenerate compartment only (usually medial) in patients with less deformity and less severe changes, which has the advantage of a smaller incision, quicker recovery and usually better postoperative flexion. It also enables easier revision if this is required in the future.

Total ankle joint replacement is indicated in selected patients with ankle arthritis who do not have significant deformity and if there is evidence of arthritis elsewhere in the foot such as the subtalar joint.  This therefore avoids stressing these arthritic joints more which would occur with stiffening of the ankle with a fusion.

Osteotomy

Osteotomy is surgically cutting a bone and resetting it. The new position is held with a rod or a plate and screws. It is performed to correct deformity (often post fracture) or in the knee in younger patients to unload an arthritic compartment in the knee - transferring the weight through the compartment not affected by arthritis.

Osteotomy is surgically cutting a bone and resetting it. The new position is held with a rod or a plate and screws. It is performed to correct deformity (often post fracture) or in the knee in younger patients to unload an arthritic compartment in the knee - transferring the weight through the compartment not affected by arthritis.

Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)

Over the last 30 years a large number of orthopaedic procedures on joints have been performed using an arthroscope, where a fibre optic telescope is used to look inside the joint. Through this type of keyhole surgery, fine instruments can be introduced through small incisions (portals) to allow surgery to be performed without the need for large cuts. This allows many procedures to be performed as a day stay and allows quicker return to normal function of the joint. Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems. Arthroscopy allows access to parts of the joints which cannot be accessed by other types of surgery.

Over the last 30 years a large number of orthopaedic procedures on joints have been performed using an arthroscope, where a fibre optic telescope is used to look inside the joint. Through this type of keyhole surgery, fine instruments can be introduced through small incisions (portals) to allow surgery to be performed without the need for large cuts. This allows many procedures to be performed as a day stay and allows quicker return to normal function of the joint.
Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems.  Arthroscopy allows access to parts of the joints which cannot be accessed by other types of surgery.
Soft Tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments)

Sporting injuries and trauma can cause injuries to the ligaments of the knee MCL, ACL, PCL and LCL. ACL rupture is a common injury in contact and non contact sports. It is often associated with a meniscal tear. With ongoing instability or in someone who is active and wishes to continue to participate in sports, an ACL reconstruction is a successful operation. This can be done arthroscopically, enabling a quicker recovery. MCL injuries are invariably treated non operatively, enabling a return to sport in approximately 4-6 weeks. A medial meniscal tear can be mistaken for an MCL injury. PCL injuries are less common and, depending on severity, are usually treated non operatively. LCL injuries should usually all be repaired acutely, especially if associated with a PCL rupture. Ankle sprains invariably heal with immobilisation and physiotherapy. Symptomatic ongoing instability with recurrent sprains may require ankle stabilisation.

Sporting injuries and trauma can cause injuries to the ligaments of the knee MCL, ACL, PCL and LCL. ACL rupture is a common injury in contact and non contact sports. It is often associated with a meniscal tear. With ongoing instability or in someone who is active and wishes to continue to participate in sports, an ACL reconstruction is a successful operation. This can be done arthroscopically, enabling a quicker recovery.

MCL injuries are invariably treated non operatively, enabling a return to sport in approximately 4-6 weeks. A medial meniscal tear can be mistaken for an MCL injury.

PCL injuries are less common and, depending on severity, are usually treated non operatively.

LCL injuries should usually all be repaired acutely, especially if associated with a PCL rupture.

Ankle sprains invariably heal with immobilisation and physiotherapy. Symptomatic ongoing instability with recurrent sprains may require ankle stabilisation.

Parking

Southern Cross Hospital North Harbour
Ample visitor parking is available.

Silverdale Medical
Free visitor parking.

Other

Post Fellowship Training
I graduated from Otago University Medical School in 1990 and the New Zealand Orthopaedic training programme in 2002, gaining my FRACS. During the training programme I spent 6 months in Toronto Canada, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill.

My post graduate training following this was:

  • 6 months doing Orthopaedic Trauma at Auckland Hospital
  • 6 months doing hip and knee replacement and complex revision surgery at Mt Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
  • 6 months doing knee surgery (ACL reconstruction and sports injuries) at Chelsea Westminster Hospital in London, England
  • 6 months doing hip and knee replacement and complex revisions and computer navigation at Royal Melbourne and Epworth Hospitals, Melbourne
  • 6 months doing foot and ankle surgery at Royal Melbourne and Epworth Hospitals Melbourne, Australia.

I have been working at North Shore Hospital since January 2006 and my private practice is on the North Shore.

Contact Details

232 Wairau Road
Totara Vale
Kaipātiki
Auckland 0629

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Street Address

232 Wairau Road
Totara Vale
Kaipātiki
Auckland 0629

Postal Address

PO Box 31 700
Milford
North Shore City 0741

This page was last updated at 7:13PM on July 15, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Mr Dean Schluter - Orthopaedic Surgeon.