Rapid Recovery Joints™

Mr George Bousounis

MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA

Mr George Bousounis is a highly trained Australian orthopaedic surgeon with both national and international fellowships in hip and knee surgery and has a particular interest in rapid recovery joint replacement surgery.

Having graduated from Monash University Medical School in 2002 he undertook his basic surgical training at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne where he gained experience in orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, general surgery and vascular surgery. He was then accepted into the Australian Orthopaedic Association to undergo further advanced training in Orthopaedic Surgery. His training took him around three states and one territory where he worked with some of the most respected surgeons across the country. He has worked with orthopaedic units in 8 major Australian hospitals including major hospitals in Melbourne (The Alfred, Austin, Royal Children’s), Sydney (Prince of Wales) and Canberra (Canberra Hospital). He has also undertaken further sub-specialist training in lower limb surgery with a particular emphasis on hip and knee surgery. In addition to his work in Australia, he has also spent time working with some of the most internationally respected surgeons in Europe with whom he performed complex hip and knee surgery.

His main surgical passion and interest has been with his work in rapid recovery joint replacement surgery. This is a new surgical technique that is significantly improving patients’ experience with having total knee and total hip replacement surgery. Mr Bousounis has a significant amount of experience in this technique that is now seeing patients undergo joint replacement surgery with significantly less pain, superior comfort and accelerated recovery rates with significantly reduced times required in hospital and a quicker return to normal function. However, he still maintains an interest in all aspects of hip and knee surgery, including sports injuries, patellofemoral instability, joint preserving surgery and general orthopaedic trauma. He prides himself on striving for excellence, providing a caring and compassionate service with personal attention to detail and using only the very best surgical equipment and implants available with the best long term results.

Over the years his extensive training and experience has resulted in the accumulation of numerous certificates. He has presented at several local, national and international collegiate scientific meetings and is also a published author. He has played an active role in orthopaedic research and in the development of new surgical techniques, and in 2008 was presented with a prize in Canberra for his research work.

Mr Bousounis also enjoys teaching junior doctors and medical students. This was recognised in 2010 when he was presented with an award for being the best supervisor and educator of junior medical staff at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He has also lectured at Monash University Medical School but currently enjoys playing an active role in the teaching and supervising of training orthopaedic surgeons.

He currently keeps busy with his private practice, operating at Mitcham Private Hospital.

Key Procedures Performed

1. Rapid recovery joint replacement surgery

Utilising new surgical analgesia techniques that avoid the use of customary post-operative opiate analgesics.
Most total hip replacement and total knee replacement patients are ready to start walking 4-5 hours post-operatively.
Most patients are ready to be discharged from hospital within 24 hours of their surgery (state average is 7.6 days).
Rapid mobilisation results in reduced rates of post-operative complications (DVT, infections, thrombophlebitis, delirium, nausea…).
Better control of pain by switching off the pain fibres intra-operatively, prior to the onset of the painful stimulus, rather than attempting this once the pain has established.
A significantly more comfortable experience for patients.
Patients report superior post-operative pain scores.
A technique that all patients can benefit from.

2. Hip and knee surgery

Minimally invasive joint replacement surgery
Arthritis
Knee (ACL) reconstruction
Sports injuries
Arthroscopic surgery
Patellofemoral instability
Joint preservation surgery

3. General orthopaedic trauma

Memberships and Professional Associations

Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
Victorian State Branch Member of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
AOA Research Foundation
AOA Medico-Legal Society
Australian Medical Association
The American Association for the Advancement of Science
Monash University Alumni Association

Professional Development

ASIA Pacific Masters Symposium for Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Knee Masterclass Continuum of Care
International subspecialty fellowship for hip and knee surgery.
Australian subspecialty fellowship in lower limb orthopaedic surgery.
AOA Victorian Annual Scientific Meeting, Victoria, Australia.
Australian Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery with Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Royal Australian College of Surgeons 82nd Annual Scientific Congress, Aukland, New Zealand.
71st Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian Orthopaedic Association; New Zealand.
70th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian Orthopaedic Association; Adelaide.
69th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian Orthopaedic Association; Cairns.
68th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian Orthopaedic Association; Hobart.
Exeter meeting Australia – Graham Gie; The Exeter Hip.
AO Principles of Operative Fracture Treatment; Sydney.
48th RACS Victorian State Committee Annual General Scientific and Fellowship Meeting.
Critical Literature Evaluation and Research Workshop; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Statistics for Surgeons Workshop; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
AO Hand Surgery Course; Sydney.
AO Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Course; Syndey.
FRACS Fellowship Course; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Cultural Awareness Training; Monash University, Melbourne.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Techniques Course; Gold Coast.
65th Annual Scientific Meeting, AOA; Perth.
47th RACS Victorian State Committee Annual General Scientific and Fellowship Meeting.
Risk Management for Surgeons; Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Care of Critically Ill Surgical Patients Course; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Basic Surgical Skills Course; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
Early Management of Severe Trauma Course; Royal Australian College of Surgeons.
9th National Forum of Prevocational Medical Education.
Royal Australina College of Surgeons 73rd Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, Australia.
Accreditation Surveyor Training for the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria.