Orthopaedic Surgeon Melbourne

Apley Orthopaedics is a private clinic and doesn’t offer bulk billing. Like most specialist practices, we work on a fee-for-service basis, as Medicare rebates don’t fully cover the cost of care.

Private health insurance can ease some of the out-of-pocket costs. We work with all major funds and can go over what’s included before anything starts. If cost is a worry, let us know; we’re open to discussing flexible options.

Public hospitals do offer bulk billing, but the wait can stretch beyond a year. With private care, you’re usually seen much sooner and get more one-on-one attention.

How long recovery takes depends on the surgery, and a few other things too.

If it’s a carpal tunnel release, healing usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. Strength might take around 3 to 4 months. Wrist arthroscopy tends to be quicker. Every day tasks? Most people are back to those in about 4 to 6 weeks after wrist arthroscopy.

Fracture repairs take longer. Sometimes 3 months. Sometimes 6. It depends.

Age matters. So does your general health. And sticking to your rehab; that’s a big one. Hand therapy matters, so we follow a five-step approach that helps guide the process from start to finish.

The first couple of days after surgery are often the most uncomfortable. That’s normal. Our anaesthetists will do what they can to help keep pain levels down.

Most people feel a bit better by day three or four. Some soreness can stick around for a few weeks. For some, it lingers longer, like six to eight weeks isn’t unusual, especially if the weather turns cold. Tingling from nerve irritation often eases up early on. But in some cases, it can hang around for a few months.

If something doesn’t feel right, such as more pain than before, numbness, odd colour changes, or signs of infection; give us a call straight away.

We turn to surgery when other treatments haven’t helped enough.

If things like splints or physio haven’t done much after some time, surgery could be worth a look. When pain starts to mess with sleep, work or just getting through the day, that’s when we consider it more seriously.

Some cases are more urgent. Severe carpal tunnel with muscle wasting, or advanced Dupuytren’s that stops your fingers from straightening, often needs an operation. The same goes for sudden injuries; broken bones, major ligament damage or torn tendons usually require early surgical repair.

We may also recommend surgery for nerve issues causing weakness or long-term pain.

Other problems like unstable fractures, joint misalignment, or anything that stops normal movement may also call for surgery.

What matters is how much it’s getting in the way. If things haven’t settled with other treatments, surgery might be the way forward.

We always start with the least invasive approach and choose what’s right for your situation.

Here's what you can expect for recovery based on different procedures:

• Carpal tunnel release: Light activities in 2–3 weeks, back to normal in 8–12 weeks
• Trigger finger release: Basic use returns within days, fully healed in 4–6 weeks
• Wrist arthroscopy: Light use in 1–2 weeks, completely recovered in 6–10 weeks
• Fracture repair: Kept still for 4–6 weeks, fully recovered in 12–16 weeks
• Tendon repair: Protected movement from 3–5 days, full strength back in 3–4 months
• Joint replacement: Initial healing 6–8 weeks, full benefits might take 6 months
• Dupuytren’s surgery: Basic use in 2–3 weeks, keeps improving over 3–6 months

Hand therapy accelerates recovery and optimises outcomes. We coordinate this care as part of your treatment plan. Return to work varies—office work might resume in 1–2 weeks, manual labour could require 6–12 weeks.

Yes, we work with all major private health funds in Australia. Because every policy is different, it’s best to check what’s included in yours before going ahead with treatment.

If you have the right hospital cover, your fund should take care of most hospital costs. There may still be a gap for surgical fees, depending on your policy and our fee schedule. Extras like physio or hand therapy might be claimable under your ancillary cover.

Some procedures need approval from your fund before they go ahead. Our team can help with that. Once we know the procedure and your insurance details, we can give you an estimate of the costs.

If you’re not insured, we can talk through self-funding options. Costs change depending on the type of procedure. Best thing to do? Send your details to our admin team. We'll check and let you know roughly what it might cost.

Your medical history helps guide your care. Bring any old scans if you have them. X-rays, MRIs, anything like that. A CD or USB is fine. Had surgery before? Seen another specialist? Those reports or letters can help too.

Write down what meds you’re taking now. Include the doses. If you’ve ever had a bad reaction or allergy, make a note of that as well.

A short symptom diary can make a big difference. When do things flare up? What sets it off? What seems to help? Jot down anything that’s been getting in the way of daily life.

Got questions? Write them down. Could be about treatment, what’s causing the problem, or what recovery might involve.

It’s okay to bring someone with you. If it helps you feel more comfortable, do it. Wear loose clothes so we can get to the spot that needs checking.

Wrist arthroscopy is a minimally invasive way to check and treat problems inside the wrist. We make a few small cuts, around 5mm each, to insert a tiny camera and tools.

It’s often used for issues like impingement, ligament tears, cartilage damage and some fractures. Most cases are done as day surgery under general anaesthetic.

Recovery usually starts with a splint for a week or two. You’ll ease back into movement gradually. In most cases, healing is quicker than with open surgery. Most people don’t feel much pain. Scars, if any, are small and usually fade.

Some swelling or soreness might happen at first. Rest, ice, and simple meds help ease it. Light activities can often restart within a week or so. Full recovery takes around six to ten weeks.

Follow-up includes wound checks, along with a physio if needed to track how you’re healing. Most of our patients report good pain relief and better movement after the procedure.

A shoulder replacement can take anywhere from an hour to three. It depends. Some are simple. Others take longer. Things like the type of surgery, your anatomy, or past operations all come into play.

Before the procedure, you’ll have about half an hour for anaesthesia and prep. Then, once it’s done, you’ll rest in recovery for a bit (usually one to two hours) before heading back to the ward. Most patients stay in the hospital for one or two nights for pain relief and to start physio.

Surgical methods can vary. Some take longer but may lead to better long-term results. Revision surgery often takes more time than a first-time replacement.

You’ll chat with one of our anaesthetists beforehand. They’ll walk you through the plan for pain relief and answer any questions.

Recovery starts right after surgery. Pain control, wound care, gentle movement. Physio gets going early. Your surgeon will let you know what to expect and when.

Yes, we treat ganglion cysts in the wrist. Not every cyst needs surgery. It really comes down to where it is, how large it’s grown, and whether it’s getting in your way day to day.

Some go away on their own. Others don’t.

If it’s not bothering you much, we might just keep an eye on it. In some cases, doing less with the wrist helps.

But if the lump returns, hurts, or gets in the way, surgery might be worth thinking about.

The surgery is simple. We take out the cyst and the bit of tissue around it to help stop it from coming back. Most people go home the same day. It’s done under local or general anaesthetic.

Healing takes time. A week or two to let the wound settle. Then slowly back to normal over the next month or so.

Most people do well. There’s still a small chance it returns, but it’s low.

We’ll guide you through everything;  from the first check to the last follow-up. Whether surgery’s right for you depends on how it feels, what your day-to-day looks like, and what’s already been tried.

We see a lot of sports injuries to the hand, wrist and upper limb.

Scaphoid fractures, thumb ligament tears, wrist sprains, and dislocated fingers are all common. We also treat jersey finger, mallet finger and gamekeeper's thumb. These need more specific care.

Fresh injuries from falls, tackles or equipment? Best checked straight away. We also treat overuse problems, like De Quervain’s, from repeated wrist or grip work.

Getting you back to sport is part of the plan. We tailor treatment to suit your activity and guide recovery with sport-specific rehab. Prevention matters too — we’ll talk through ways to avoid it happening again.

Some follow-up appointments can be done virtually. Great for routine check-ups, going over scans, or just checking in on how you're healing.

It’s not ideal for wound checks, complex issues or anything needing hands-on assessment. You’ll need a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and internet.

Our team will let you know if a virtual consult suits your case. If so, we’ll book you through our virtual clinic. Make sure you’ve got decent lighting, good connection and any photos or documents ready.

Some visits still need to be in person, especially early on after surgery. Virtual appointments They are often more convenient and cut down travel. But some things still need a face-to-face visit. A mix usually works best.

We’ll help plan what’s right for your recovery.