Dr Connon specialises in muscle-sparing joint replacement surgery, including the anterior approach to hip replacement and the quadriceps-sparing (subvastus) approach to knee replacement. These techniques are designed to minimise disruption to muscles and soft tissue, with the aim of reducing pain and supporting a faster recovery.
He is the only Sunshine Coast-based orthopaedic surgeon with fellowship training in anterior hip replacement. He has authored a book chapter on hip replacement surgical technique and lectures regularly in Australia and overseas on accurate implant positioning in hip and knee replacement. The anterior approach is offered to all patients having a primary hip replacement, and Dr Connon can also perform revision hip replacement through the anterior approach for most patients.
Since late 2023, Dr Connon has performed all of his first-time total knee replacements using a quadriceps-sparing (subvastus) approach — and has now performed over one thousand knee replacements using this technique that avoids cutting through the quadriceps tendon. He is a member of the Medacta International Subvastus Working Group, contributing to the ongoing international development of the technique.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all technique, every recommendation — whether that’s the anterior approach to hip replacement, a subvastus knee replacement, or a non-surgical pathway — is tailored to your anatomy, activity level and goals, in collaboration with your referring practitioner and physiotherapist.
Where surgery is appropriate, your procedure is planned using robotic assistance or patient-specific instrumentation, for greater accuracy in implant sizing and positioning around your unique anatomy.
Why are people talking about ‘quadriceps-sparing’ (subvastus approach) or ‘muscle-sparing’ knee replacement and what is the difference between that and a ‘traditional’ parapatellar approach? This
Numerous research papers show that following a primary (‘first time’) Total Hip
Replacement performed by a well-trained and appropriately experienced surgeon the
average patient will have a faster recovery with less pain over the first 6 weeks or so with an anterior approach than with a posterior approach. The skin incision is shorter but more importantly, the muscles are simply spread apart rather than cut to gain access to the hip joint. This has also been proven to lower the dislocation risk.
Everything to expect and what you need to do has been written in a booklet that we will give you at the time of booking your surgery. It covers everything from what preparation you need to do, appointments, tests, physiotherapy, wound care and more in much greater detail than this blog. This blog post is simply a brief overview.
