Knee Surgeon in Hornsby

Specialist Knee Surgeon for Hornsby

Hornsby is a suburban hub built around family homes, generous backyards, the train line, and easy access to bushland just past Berowra and Mount Colah. The Westfield. The pool. The weekend market. Walks along the Old Mans Valley track. A knee that has started catching, swelling, or aching on the stairs can quietly disrupt a lot of that.

A specialist knee assessment tells you what is actually happening, what the realistic options look like, and whether anything needs doing at all. Dr Jonathan Negus is a specialist knee surgeon based in St Leonards, with consulting rooms a short trip from Hornsby. The conversation is usually about what fits your life in Hornsby, not about rushing into surgery.

Knee Problems Often Seen in Hornsby Patients

The Hornsby patient mix is genuinely broad. Three patterns make up the majority of bookings:

Knee pain in active suburban families

Parents in their 40s and 50s with knee problems from social football, netball, basketball at Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre, weekend hikes through Berowra Valley National Park, or just years of carrying kids, prams, and shopping up and down the front steps. Common diagnoses include meniscal tears, patellar tendinopathy, and early osteoarthritis.

Sports injuries in teens and young adults

Local school and club sport produces a steady stream of patellar dislocations, growth-plate-related anterior knee pain, and the occasional Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear in committed teenage athletes. Early specialist review matters in this group, since growth plates and long-term joint health are involved.

Knee arthritis in older Hornsby residents

Many patients have lived in Hornsby for decades and arrive in their 60s or 70s with progressive knee arthritis. Many are still active. They want a knee that lets them keep walking the dog, gardening the backyard, and playing with grandchildren. Treatment ranges from structured physiotherapy and weight management through to partial or total knee replacement.

Providing More Than Just Surgery to Relieve Pain

It is not just about surgery. It is about getting you moving again.

Living with ongoing knee pain can make everyday activities harder. Walking. Climbing stairs. Time with your family. Knee pain can limit more than movement; it can affect independence and confidence.

The focus is on helping you find relief, regain function, and move toward the life you want, through evidence-based care that goes well beyond the operation itself.

Book an Assessment

Accessing Specialist Knee Care from Hornsby

Specialist consultations happen at MTP Health in St Leonards. From Hornsby, that is around 20 to 25 minutes by car via the Pacific Highway, or a direct train run on the North Shore line, around 25 to 30 minutes from Hornsby station. Surgery happens at North Shore Private Hospital (next door to the rooms) or Macquarie University Hospital, around 15 minutes from Hornsby via Pennant Hills Road.

A few practical points for Hornsby patients booking a consultation:

• Plan for two to four weeks until your first appointment.
• Bring a current General Practitioner (GP) referral. A standard referral lasts 12 months.
• Bring any existing X-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or Computed Tomography (CT) scans on a USB or via the imaging provider portal.
• Include family members or carers if helpful, as they are welcome at the consultation.
• Mention scheduling preferences when you call, particularly if you need an early-morning or late-afternoon slot.

How Most Hornsby Patients Move Through Treatment

Surgery sits at the top of the treatment ladder, not the first rung. Most patients move through several steps before it is even considered:

1. Initial consultation and clinical examination, with imaging if needed.
2. Structured physiotherapy programme for 6 to 12 weeks, focused on strengthening the quadriceps, hip stabilisers, and walking gait.
3. Activity modification, often swapping high-impact for moderate-impact (cycling, swimming, hydrotherapy at the Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre).
4. Weight management where it is relevant. Losing 5 kilograms can reduce the load on the knee by around 15 to 20 kilograms with each step.
5. Image-guided injection (cortisone or hyaluronic acid) when inflammation is the main driver. Effects typically last three to six months.
6. Surgical assessment if non-surgical options have been genuinely tried and either failed or stopped working.

Many patients seen at the first appointment do not need surgery. The treatment plan is built around your activity level, your goals, and your day-to-day life.

Clinical and Surgical Interests

• Robotic-assisted knee surgery
• Total knee replacement
• Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and ligament surgery
• Patella stabilisation surgery
• Optimising patient outcomes through individualised follow-up and rehabilitation programmes
• No-Gap joint replacement surgery for eligible Medibank Private and Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia (HCF) patients

Consulting Locations

• St Leonards (MTP Health), Level 4, Suite 401, 7 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065
• Beacon Hill (MTP Health), Level 1, 173 Warringah Road, Beacon Hill NSW 2100
• Gosford (Hills Street Sports Medicine), 1 Hills Street, Gosford NSW 2250

Hospital Appointments

• Northern Beaches Hospital, Frenchs Forest
• North Shore Private Hospital, St Leonards
• Mater Hospital, North Sydney
• Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Park

Where to Do Your Rehabilitation Near Hornsby

Most of the work after knee surgery is done by your physiotherapist, not your knee surgeon. Referrals are made to physiotherapy providers across Hornsby and the surrounding suburbs, so weekly sessions stay close to home. Hydrotherapy at the Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre is often added in the first six weeks after knee replacement, particularly for older patients and those recovering from larger procedures.

Your local General Practitioner (GP) is kept in the loop throughout. Letters are sent after the initial consultation, after surgery, and at each follow-up review, so your local care stays coordinated.

Costs, MBS Rebates, and Private Health Cover

Every patient receives a written cost estimate before any surgery is booked.

• Surgeon fees range from $3,000 to $8,000, depending on the procedure.
• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates cover 75% of the schedule fee for in-hospital services and 85% for in-rooms consultations.
• No-Gap joint replacement is available for eligible Medibank Private and Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia (HCF) members on selected items.
• Robotic-assisted surgery carries no additional surgeon fee.
• A gold-tier private hospital policy generally covers most of the hospital and theatre charge.

Phone your private health fund before booking to confirm what your specific policy covers for knee surgery, prostheses, and any inpatient rehabilitation stay.

A Knee That Keeps Up With Suburban Hornsby Life

Knee pain that has been getting in the way of weekend walks, the garden, or just keeping up with kids and grandkids deserves a proper conversation. A specialist assessment cuts through the guesswork and gives you a clear picture, realistic options, and an honest answer about whether surgery is the right step for you.

Ask your General Practitioner (GP) for a referral to Dr Jonathan Negus at MTP Health, St Leonards.

Book a Consultation with Dr Jonathan Negus