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Rupert Van Rooyen - Orthopaedic Hip and Knee Surgeon

Private Service, Orthopaedics

Description

Mr Van Rooyen is an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in:
  • general orthopaedics
  • hip and knee replacement
  • Mako Robotic assisted knee replacement surgery
  • computer navigated knee replacement
  • lower limb surgery
  • knee arthroscopic surgery
 
Mr Van Rooyen's consulting rooms are at 119 Apollo Drive in Albany. He performs surgery at Southern Cross Hospital North Harbour, and the North Shore Surgical Centre in Shakespeare road
 
What is Orthopaedics?
This is an area that deals with conditions of the musculoskeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The specialty 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 with you:

  • any letters or reports from your doctor or hospital
  • any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports
  • all medicines you are taking including herbal and natural remedies
  • your pharmaceutical entitlement card
  • your ACC number, if you have one.

Procedures / Treatments

Fractures

Orthopaedic surgeons have expertise in the treatment of fractured (broken) bones, particularly in the assessment of damage that may have occurred around the fracture. Follow-up of a fracture may involve monitoring the progress of the healing bone, checking the position of the bone in a cast and deciding when other steps in management such as re-manipulation of the fracture or removal of a cast is required. Click here for more information about fractures.

Orthopaedic surgeons have expertise in the treatment of fractured (broken) bones, particularly in the assessment of damage that may have occurred around the fracture. 

Follow-up of a fracture may involve monitoring the progress of the healing bone, checking the position of the bone in a cast and deciding when other steps in management such as re-manipulation of the fracture or removal of a cast is required.

Click here for more information about fractures.

Osteotomy

The division of a crooked or bent bone to improve alignment of the limb. These procedures normally involve some form of internal fixation, such as rods or plates, or external fixation which involves external wires and pins to hold the bone. The type of procedure for fixation will be explained when the surgery is planned.

The division of a crooked or bent bone to improve alignment of the limb.
 
These procedures normally involve some form of internal fixation, such as rods or plates, or external fixation which involves external wires and pins to hold the bone. The type of procedure for fixation will be explained when the surgery is planned.
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 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.

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.

Knee 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.

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.

Computer Navigated Knee Replacement

This is a technique in which a detailed image of the patient’s knee is generated on a computer screen, allowing precise alignment of the knee replacement.

This is a technique in which a detailed image of the patient’s knee is generated on a computer screen, allowing precise alignment of the knee replacement.

Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)

Many orthopaedic examinations and treatments of joints are performed using an arthroscope, a narrow tube containing a fibre optic telescope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. The arthroscope is connected to a video camera and images of the interior of the joint can be seen on a TV monitor. 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 (sometimes known as "keyhole" 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. For more information about arthroscopy please click here.

Many orthopaedic examinations and treatments of joints are performed using an arthroscope, a narrow tube containing a fibre optic telescope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. The arthroscope is connected to a video camera and images of the interior of the joint can be seen on a TV monitor.

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 (sometimes known as "keyhole" 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.

For more information about arthroscopy please click here.

Knee Arthroscopy

Several small incisions (cuts) are made on the knee through which is inserted a small telescopic instrument with a tiny camera attached (arthroscope). This allows the surgeon to look inside the joint, identify problems and, in some cases, make repairs to damaged tissue.

Several small incisions (cuts) are made on the knee through which is inserted a small telescopic instrument with a tiny camera attached (arthroscope). This allows the surgeon to look inside the joint, identify problems and, in some cases, make repairs to damaged tissue.

Soft Tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments)

In many cases tendons will be lengthened to improve the muscle balance around a joint or tendons will be transferred to give overall better joint function. This occurs in children with neuromuscular conditions but also applies to a number of other conditions. Most of these procedures involve some sort of splintage after the surgery followed by a period of rehabilitation, normally supervised by a physiotherapist.

In many cases tendons will be lengthened to improve the muscle balance around a joint or tendons will be transferred to give overall better joint function.
This occurs in children with neuromuscular conditions but also applies to a number of other conditions.
Most of these procedures involve some sort of splintage after the surgery followed by a period of rehabilitation, normally supervised by a physiotherapist.

Public Transport

The Auckland Transport website is a good resource to plan your public transport options.

Parking

Free off street patient parking is available at all clinics.

Contact Details

Auckland Orthopaedic Surgeons
119 Apollo Drive
Rosedale
Auckland 0632

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Street Address

Auckland Orthopaedic Surgeons
119 Apollo Drive
Rosedale
Auckland 0632

Postal Address

Auckland Orthopaedic Surgeons
119 Apollo Drive
Rosedale
Auckland 0632

This page was last updated at 3:55PM on June 13, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Rupert Van Rooyen - Orthopaedic Hip and Knee Surgeon.