Mr Simon Matthews

BSc(Hons) / MBBS(Lond) / FRCS(T&O) / FRACS(Ortho) / FAOrthoA

I grew up in the UK and studied medicine at Bart’s Hospital in London, graduating in 1999 before undertaking basic surgical training in Colchester, Essex.  I joined the Royal London Hospital orthopaedic training rotation in 2004 and passed the UK FRCS (Tr&Orth) Fellowship exam in 2008.

In 2009 I travelled with my family to Melbourne for a 12-month fellowship in complex joint replacement and pelvic reconstruction with local surgeons Andrew Bucknill, Richard de Steiger and Sam Patten at the Royal Melbourne and Epworth Richmond hospitals.  After this, I completed a 6month trauma fellowship at the Royal Melbourne.  Returning to London in 2011 for a year, we came back to Australia when the opportunity arose in Wagga.  Little did I realise at the time that I was following in the footsteps of Australia’s first rural orthopaedic surgeon, Peter Dewey, who had made the journey here from the UK and established the orthopaedic department in the late 1960s.  After returning, I passed the FRACS fellowship exam and received Fellowship of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Since arriving in Wagga, we have all had a great welcome, made many new friends and look forward to staying in the longer term.

I have worked at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital since 2012 and have been the Director of the Orthopaedic Department since 2015.  I also operate privately at Calvary Riverina Hospital.  I am available for consultation at Riverina Orthopaedics most days, with regular clinics in Cootamundra and Albury.

My major interests include:

Hip and knee replacement (arthroplasty) surgery – including primary, complex and revision (re-do) surgery for worn, failed or infected joint replacements. I also perform keyhole (arthoscopic) procedures and joint-preserving surgery such as partial knee replacement or re-alignment (osteotomy) surgery, in those patients where it is appropriate. I also perform soft-tissue knee procedures such as gluteal and hamstring tendon repairs,ACL reconstructions and patellofemoral instability management.

Fracture/trauma surgery – both child and adult trauma and specifically complex lower limb trauma including fractures and injuries around joints and joint replacements (periprosthetic injuries). I participate in the on-call roster at WWBH and am always available to discuss the management of acute injuries with local GPs and referring hospitals to minimise patients having to travel where possible.

Surgical education and training – I hold an academic position with the Rural Clinical School, UNSW and regularly teach medical students, junior doctors and orthopaedic registrars at WWRRH. I am a senior instructor for the EMST (Emergency Management of Severe Trauma) course run throughout Australia and I am also on the faculty of AO Trauma, an organisation which trains surgeons in operative trauma management worldwide.
 

Professional Associations

Australian Orthopaedic Association
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Orthopaedic Trauma Association
AO Trauma
Australian Orthopaedic Trauma Society

Away from work, I try to find some time for DIY, trail and ultramarathon running,shooting, Krav Maga and travel.

Kathrine

Personal Assistant to Mr Matthews.

To make an appointment with Dr Matthews please contact Kathrine on 6925 2070, option 3.

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