Hip Surgery in Perth
Hip surgery in Perth with orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rhys Clark — total hip replacement including the direct anterior approach, revision surgery and gluteal tendon repair. Consulting at Murdoch and Mandurah.
Dr Rhys Clark is a Perth orthopaedic surgeon specialising in the treatment of hip injuries and disease. From hip arthritis and total hip replacement through to complex revision surgery, his work is focused on returning you to your movement goals.
Conditions and procedures
Hip arthritis is the most common reason patients are referred. Cartilage in the ball-and-socket joint wears away, and because it does not grow back, the joint loses its cushioning. The characteristic symptom is groin pain that worsens after activity.
Total hip replacement replaces the femoral head and socket with a prosthetic implant. Dr Clark generally prefers the minimally invasive direct anterior approach where suitable. It is rated among the top five elective operations for improving quality of life, with more than 90% of patients achieving significant pain relief.
Hip revision surgery addresses a hip replacement that has loosened, worn, become infected, or been affected by bone loss or fracture.
Bursitis and gluteal tendinopathy cause pain on the outer side of the hip rather than the groin, and are usually managed without surgery.
A guide worth reading first
If you have been told there is arthritis in your hip, Understanding Hip Arthritis explains in plain English what that means, why the pain is usually felt in the groin rather than the hip itself, what non-surgical treatment involves, and what to expect if surgery is discussed. It is written to be read before an appointment.
Where Dr Clark consults
Consultations are available at St John of God Medical Clinic in Murdoch and at consulting rooms in Mandurah, serving patients across Perth and the Peel region. Surgery is performed at St John of God Murdoch, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Osborne Park Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital.
Which hip surgeries does Dr Rhys Clark perform in Perth?+
Dr Clark performs total hip replacement — including the minimally invasive direct anterior approach — as well as hip revision surgery and surgery for gluteal tendon tears. He consults at St John of God Medical Clinic in Murdoch and at Mandurah, and operates at St John of God Murdoch, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Osborne Park Hospital and Perth Children's Hospital.
What is the main symptom of hip arthritis?+
Groin pain, which typically intensifies after a long walk or other exercise. Joint stiffness usually accompanies it, making it hard to bend down, and symptoms are often worse after activity or in cold weather.
When should I consider a hip replacement?+
When hip pain persists despite non-operative treatment such as medication, physiotherapy and lifestyle change, and when everyday activities — walking, climbing stairs, bending, getting in and out of chairs — have become difficult. Stiffness after sleeping or long periods of sitting can also point to advanced arthritis.
Is hip pain on the side of the hip the same as hip arthritis?+
Not necessarily. Pain from the hip joint itself is usually felt in the groin. Pain on the outer side of the hip, over the bony trochanter, often comes from the gluteal tendons or bursa rather than the joint — a condition called Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. Establishing which structure the pain is coming from determines the treatment.
Hip Arthritis
Treatment for hip osteoarthritis in Perth — why the pain is felt in the groin, what works before surgery, when hip replacement is considered, and which approach suits. Assessment with Dr Rhys Clark at Murdoch and Mandurah.
Learn more →Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement in Perth with Dr Rhys Clark, including the minimally invasive direct anterior approach. Surgical options, success rates, preparation and recovery.
Learn more →Anterior Hip Replacement
The direct anterior approach to hip replacement in Perth with Dr Rhys Clark — how it differs from the posterior approach, what it genuinely offers, what the evidence shows at six to twelve months, and who it suits.
Learn more →Hip Revision Surgery
Hip revision surgery in Perth with Dr Rhys Clark, for hip replacements affected by loosening, infection, component wear, bone loss, dislocation or fracture.
Learn more →Bursitis / Gluteal Tendinopathy
Gluteal tendinopathy, hip bursitis and Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS) in Perth — causes of lateral hip pain and the non-surgical and surgical treatment options.
Learn more →