Mr Vishal Pai, Orthopaedic Knee Surgeon

13/08/2025

Big shout out to Manjot from . Nothing better to keep you going when you have a long theatre list than some sweet treats for me and the staff. The biscoff caramilk chunky choc oreo loaded brownies were my favourite! Check it out @ manjotsbaking.com.au

09/09/2024

I am honoured to have been a part of the Arthrex Orthopaedic Technology and Innovation Forum (OTIF) in Sydney as a faculty member. I had the opportunity to discuss techniques in complex meniscal repair and the management of focal articular cartilage defects. Sharing insights and knowledge on these intricate topics with fellow professionals was incredibly rewarding. I am grateful for the engaging discussions and the chance to contribute to the ongoing advancement of orthopaedic surgery.

Thank you to the Arthrex team for organizing such a valuable forum, and to all the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to innovation in our field.

I want to extend my gratitude to the other faculty members of the Arthrex Orthopaedic Innovation and Technology Forum (OTIF) for the engaging and insightful discussions.

10/09/2023

I had a great time presenting to a group of 80 GPs at Riversdale Golf Club over the weekend. Thanks to Healthscope and Lumus Radiology for supporting the event.

My topic was knee osteoarthritis, and here's a quick summary of the discussion points:
- Not every patient with knee osteoarthritis requires knee replacement surgery
- Exercise therapy, weight loss and the use of occasional painkillers can help a majority of patients
- For flare-ups of osteoarthritis, an injection into the knee can be considered
- Radiofrequency ablation of the sensory nerves around the knee has also been shown to be effective in improving pain from osteoarthritis
- For younger patients (< 50 years old) with osteoarthritis and a valgus/varus deformity, a corrective osteotomy (alignment changing procedure) can help with symptoms and postpone the need for knee replacement
- If knee replacement surgery is required, anaesthetic and surgical techniques have significantly improved. Post-surgical recovery should be smooth and life-changing for most patients
- Partial knee replacements are associated with better function and recovery in patients with osteoarthritis confined to one part of the knee.
- Robotic knee replacement surgery can be a useful tool to help improve the accuracy of bone cuts, but longer-term data is required

04/09/2023

This is a follow-up to my previous post about a 17-year-old with a complex lateral meniscal tear. Lateral meniscal tears should be repaired in a young population (if feasible). I try to preserve meniscal tissue and repair the meniscus, even in complex cases like this. Meniscal repair techniques and equipment have significantly improved, which facilitates this.

The presence of bleeding or a vascular blush at the repair site is an excellent prognostic indicator. In this case, I also performed a concurrent ACL reconstruction to manage his ACL rupture. Performing an ACL reconstruction in the setting of a lateral meniscal tear significantly increases the success rate of meniscal repair.

16/08/2023

Here’s an example of a radial tear in a lateral meniscus of a 15-year-old. This was managed non-operatively, and he reports that his symptoms subsided. Unfortunately, he had a further twisting knee injury two years later and sustained further damage to his lateral meniscus. The tear extended, and he had a flipped fragment of the meniscus in the posterior recess of the knee. He also sustained damage to the cartilage surfaces.

A radial tear of the meniscus is a significant injury in a young population. It shouldn’t be confused with a degenerative meniscal tear in an older population. Radial tears completely defunction the meniscus - it’s akin to having a total meniscectomy. In a younger population, I would recommend a meniscal repair to restore the function of the meniscus so it can protect the cartilage.

31/07/2023

Being part of the faculty at the Arthrex Innovations in knee arthroscopy cadaveric course in Brisbane was an honour. I had the opportunity to collaborate with other surgeons and discuss my experience with quadriceps tendon ACL reconstruction and ACL repair. We then entered the lab and honed our surgical skills on cadaveric specimens. A big thanks to the Arthrex staff for arranging a great course!

17/05/2023

Last night's discussion with a group of sports physicians proved to be an enriching experience, centered around the advancements in sports knee surgery.

Here are the key take-home points from my presentation:

1. It is crucial to address associated meniscal injuries alongside ACL injuries to ensure the best possible outcome for patients. Specifically, we highlighted the significance of treating RAMP lesions, which refer to meniscocapsular separations occurring in the medial meniscus, as well as LMORT lesions, which are lateral meniscal oblique radial tears. Additionally, we emphasized the importance of addressing lateral meniscal root tears, which involve the detachment of the meniscus insertion site onto the tibia.

2. Whenever feasible, opting for meniscus repair is highly recommended, as it provides long-term protection for the knee's cartilage.

3. For cases of acute cartilage injury that occur within a well-defined area (focal), a promising option involves utilizing minced autogenous cartilage graft, packed into the defect and secured in place with fibrin glue (AutoCart).

I extend my gratitude to Arthrex for their generous support in making this educational night possible.

27/03/2023

I’m pleased to announce the opening of my new rooms in Sandringham. Click the link in the bio to find out more.

25/12/2022

We hope you all have a well rested holiday. See you back in 2023! We are open again from the 9th of January.

22/06/2022

After being in lockdown in Melbourne for a long time, it was great to have a GP educational evening over dinner talking about knee osteoarthritis and what’s new in 2022. Thanks to The Avenue Hospital for arranging this.

30/04/2022

I am honoured to be invited to present an online lecture to the Australian Physiotherapy Association about the surgical considerations in ACL reconstruction. For those interested, the session will be on May 2 7-8pm AEST.

Discussion points will include:
Management of the acute ACL injury
Decision making in ACL injury: Operative vs non-operative management
Role of prehabilitation
Associated injuries with ACL rupture
Graft choice in ACL reconstruction
Post-operative rehabilitation

Click the link for more information:
https://lnkd.in/g5-A7bxf

14/02/2022

In most cases, early knee osteoarthritis can effectively be managed without surgery. Anti-inflammatories, weight loss and a good physiotherapist can really set you on track. On occasion, an injection into the knee may help for a flare-up of pain. Read more about the options available.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common problem that affects people as they get older. There are effective non-surgical management options for early osteoarthritis. Read more to find out what options work at getting you back to an active lifestyle.