Knee Surgeon in North Sydney

Specialist Knee Surgeon for North Sydney

How long have you been working around the knee pain? Most North Sydney patients book a knee consultation after months of pushing through. The knee aches on the way up from North Sydney station. It twinges on the morning run across the Harbour Bridge. The stairwell to the office becomes a daily reminder. Eventually the calendar opens, the referral gets sorted, and the assessment happens.

Dr Jonathan Negus is a specialist knee surgeon consulting at St Leonards and operating at Mater Hospital, North Sydney. The aim is a clear plan that fits around your work, not the other way around.

Surgery at Mater Hospital, North Sydney

Mater Hospital is located on Rocklands Road in North Sydney, a short drive from the North Sydney Central Business District (CBD). It is one of the most established private orthopaedic hospitals close to North Sydney, and the primary surgical hospital for many North Sydney patients in Dr Negus's practice. Most total knee replacement procedures for North Sydney patients are performed there.

Key Mater Hospital details that matter to you as a patient:

• Modern operating theatres equipped for orthopaedic procedures, with on-site imaging including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT)
• Inpatient rehabilitation available on-site, removing the need to transfer to a separate facility after surgery
• Private rooms standard for most knee replacement admissions
• Around two to four night stays typical for total knee replacement, one to three nights for partial replacement, day-stay for arthroscopy
• On-site parking and accessible drop-off, important for patients arriving on crutches post-discharge

Patients who prefer a different hospital may also have their surgery at North Shore Private Hospital in St Leonards or Macquarie University Hospital in Macquarie Park.

Built for Busy Schedules

North Sydney patients usually need three things from a specialist: a fast initial appointment, a clear plan, and minimal disruption to work. Here is what you can expect:

• New patient consultations typically within two to four weeks at the St Leonards rooms
• Early-morning appointments from 7:30am on selected days, so the consultation finishes before the workday begins
• Late-afternoon slots after 5:00pm on selected days for patients in back-to-back meetings
• Same-day referrals for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) at providers within five minutes of the rooms
• Direct communication with your General Practitioner (GP) and treating physiotherapist throughout the treatment plan

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

Conservative Care First, Surgery When It Is the Right Tool

Most knee problems start with non-surgical care. If you are a North Sydney professional, that usually means:

1. A focused six to 12 week physiotherapy programme, scheduled around work hours where possible.
2. Activity modification, often swapping running for cycling or swimming temporarily.
3. Weight management where it is relevant. Around one kilogram of body weight loads the knee with three to four kilograms during walking.
4. Image-guided injection (cortisone or hyaluronic acid) for inflammation-driven pain in selected cases.

Most patients seen at the first appointment do not need surgery. The aim is to give each patient the right intervention at the right time.

Recovery Logistics for Hybrid Workers

Most knee operations let you return to office work faster than people expect, particularly with hybrid work arrangements. Realistic timelines you can plan around:

• Arthroscopy: one to two weeks off, with work-from-home often possible from days three to five
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction: one to two weeks off, hybrid return over weeks two to four
• Partial knee replacement: four to six weeks off, with home-based work typically possible from week three
• Total knee replacement: six to eight weeks off, with home-based work often possible from week three or four

Driving usually returns at four to six weeks for a right knee. Your insurer typically wants written clearance, so confirm before getting back behind the wheel.

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

Surgeon Fees, MBS Rebates, and Private Cover

Cost transparency is part of the practice. Every patient receives a written estimate before surgery is booked, covering surgeon, anaesthetist, hospital, and prosthesis charges where relevant.

• Surgeon fees typically $3,000 to $8,000 depending on procedure complexity.
• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebates: 75% of the schedule fee for in-hospital services, 85% for in-rooms consultations.
• No-Gap joint replacement: available for eligible Medibank Private and Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia (HCF) members on selected items.
• Robotic-assisted surgery: no additional surgeon fee.
• Most gold-tier private hospital policies cover the bulk of hospital and theatre costs, leaving only the excess plus any surgeon or anaesthetist gap.

Call your private health fund before your first consultation to confirm coverage for knee surgery and prosthesis costs under your specific policy.

Take the Next Step on Your Knee

If a knee is slowing down your work or your weekend, the easiest next step is a specialist consultation. You leave with a clear picture of what is going on, an honest answer on whether surgery is needed, and a treatment plan that fits around your job rather than the other way around.

Ask your General Practitioner (GP) for a referral to Dr Jonathan Negus at MTP Health, St Leonards. Mention scheduling preferences for early-morning or after-work appointments at the time of booking.

Book a Consultation with Dr Jonathan Negus