Our Specialists

Dr. Jean-Paul Abner
Melomed Bellville
021 949 3451
abnerontvangs@adept.co.za

Dr. Haroun Ahmed
Melomed Gatesville
035 791 5406
drahmed@gmc.com

Dr. Ajmal Ikram
Melomed Gatesville
021 637 4077
ajmalikram1@gmail.com

Dr. Pradeep Makan
Melomed Gatesville
021 637 0501
pradeep.makan@vincentpallotti.com

Dr. Jan Marais
Melomed Bellville
021 948 8131
janadele@telkomsa.net

Dr. Thato Mniki
Melomed Richards Bay
035 791 5430
t.mniki@yahoo.com

Dr. Muhamed Mohideen
Melomed Bellville & Mitchells Plain
021 110 5075/6
drmohideen.melomed@gmail.com

Dr. Zaheer Moonda
Melomed Tokai & Gatesville
0217647185
info@ossein.co.za

Dr. Sailesh Ragoo
Melomed Richards Bay
035 772 2227
kashmira@netactive.co.za

Dr. Abdul Aleem Rawoot
Melomed Tokai & Bellville
021 712 4898
rawoot.ortho@gmail.com

Dr. Riyaad Salie
Melomed Mitchells Plain & Tokai
021 110 5353
surgeon@orthocare360.co.za

Dr. Ashwin Seevsagath
Melomed Tokai, Mitchells Plain
021 712 2328
seevs@mweb.co.za

Dr. Tayo Sulaiman
Melomed Gatesville & Tokai
021 633 7361
melomed@orthohealth.co.za

Dr. Niel Martin van der Berg
Melomed Richards Bay
035 772 2387
vanderberg.ortho@gmail.com
When should you visit an Orthopaedic Surgeon?
When you experience joint pain and discomfort which stops you from doing your everyday activities, it is time to see an orthopaedic doctor. Your pain may result from a sprain, strain, or ligament tear that needs immediate attention; the wear and tear associated with arthritis; or a related medical condition or chronic pain. Our Melomed Orthopaedic Specialists can perform both surgical and non-surgical procedures to help treat your injury or condition.
Some of the pain and discomfort includes:
With the expertise of our Melomed Orthopaedic Surgeons and due to the high volume of patient cases, this allow us to manage routine and complex care effectively.
Do not delay your medical treatment any further and contact one of our Orthopaedic Surgeons today.
Most common Surgical Procedures
There are many types of joint reconstruction and replacement surgery. Some of the most common surgical procedures are explained here.
Total joint replacement
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged joint, such as a knee joint, are removed and replaced with an artificial joint that moves like a healthy joint.
Total knee replacement
If you have very severe arthritis, for example, total knee replacement surgery may be an option. When knee replacement surgery is performed, the cartilage of the knee joint is replaced with an implant.
Total hip replacement
This procedure involves removing the ball and socket of a joint with arthritis and inserting a new ball and socket to allow movement at the new joint.
Total shoulder replacement
This procedure involves replacing damaged bone and cartilage with an implant to improve range of motion at the shoulder joint.
Rotator cuff repair
The rotator cuff helps keep your shoulder anchored and helps it to move. A tear in the cuff can limit your range of motion and cause pain. These tears can be repaired with surgery to relieve pain and improve strength and functioning of the shoulder.
Arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy is a method of viewing or performing surgery on a joint by use of an arthroscope, which consists of a very small tube, a lens, and a light source using fiber optics to visualize the surgical area. orthopaedic surgeons perform shoulder, knee and other repairs with arthroscopy. The incision made for inserting the arthroscope is very small, and fewer stitches may be required. The advantage to arthroscopy is a smaller incision heals more quickly and there is less trauma to tissue.
Spine surgery
A variety of problems may lead to spine surgery. There are a number of procedures that can be performed to improve function and remove back pain, and these procedures are done if more conservative treatment, such as medication or physical therapy, don't work. These include such common procedures as laminectomy, diskectomy, fusion, and spinal decompressions. Kyphoplasty is a less-invasive technique for the pain of spinal fractures often caused by osteoporosis.
Ankle surgery
A variety of problems with the ankles and wrists require surgical treatment. Overuse injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, stress fractures and sprains can often be treated with surgery if more conservative treatment fails.
ACL reconstruction
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the major stabilizing ligament of the knee. When it ruptures, reconstruction can be performed in a number of ways, including state-of-the-art tendon grafts.
Frequently Asked Questions?
What does total hip replacement surgery entail?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that has a large range of movement. Total hip replacement (THR) surgery is undertaken when a patient's native hip has been problematic due to a number of possible causes, including arthritis, trauma or collapse of the femoral head (the ball). Surgery is recommended when there is constant pain and stiffness that limits daily activities and reduces your quality of life. The surgery involves replacing the worn or damaged ball (femoral head) with a new prosthetic ball, as well as lining the socket (acetabulum) with a prosthesis to restore motion in the hip and eliminate pain.
What are the results of Total Hip Replacement surgery:
Hip replacement surgery is usually very successful, second only to cataract surgery in the whole field of medicine. More than 95% of patients have relief from hip pain, and the success rate remains at 90 - 95% at 10 years post surgery.
What the risks involved in this kind of surgery?
Although hip replacement is an extremely successful procedure, there are possible risks associated with any surgery. The risks of complications are around 1-2%. The common ones in THR are:
Bleeding (intra-operative). This can be controlled in surgery using various techniques
Fracture of the femur or pelvis. These may be left to heal on their own or may need to stabilised during the surgery or soon thereafter
Blood clots. These can form in the leg veins during or after surgery and carry a risk of shooting to the lung or heart (embolization). Blood-thinning medication is used to reduce this risk.
Infections. This may be superficial, involving only the wound, which is treated with antibiotics, or deeper involving the joint, when further surgery may be needed to cure it. Our patients are all given antibiotics around the surgery to reduce this risk.
Other more rare complications include dislocation of the hip joint, loosening of the prostheses, leg length differences, and nerve damage, but these all occur very infrequently.
How soon after a hip-replacement surgery can the patient go home?
Modern surgical techniques aim to get our patients back home and returning to function as soon as possible. The usual hospital stay is between two and four days. Patients are discharged once they are mobile and it is safe for them to return home.
Will the patient need any assistive devices, for example, a walker or crutches?
Most patients will cope with crutches after their hip replacement, which they will use for between 4 and 6 weeks. A small number of patients may require a walking frame is they feel unsteady or are unable to use crutches.
How soon does rehabilitation therapy start after the hip surgery?
Ideally, patients will have "pre-habilitation" where they do exercises to strengthen them prior to surgery. Rehabilitation will start very soon after surgery, mostly the next day, or in some circumstances even on the day of surgery.
What is considered a normal amount of pain after hip-replacement surgery and what kind of pain management can be expected?
We aim to make the surgery as comfortable and pain-free as possible. The anaesthetist will decide with the patient on the pain management strategy best suited for them. This may include general or regional (spinal or epidural) anaesthesia, nerve blocks, local anaesthetic wound injections, patient-controlled pain medicine pumps, and intravenous and oral pain medication.
How can the patient reduce the likelihood of injury or complications?
The best strategy is to follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon and physio- and occupational therapists. The wound is to be left undisturbed (clean and dry) until your first check-up, care should be taken when walking with crutches; certain movements need to be avoided (like crossing the legs or squatting) for the first 6 weeks; infections elsewhere need to be managed early.
How soon can regular activities (sport, driving, going to work) be resumed?
Most patients will be off regular activity for around 5 - 6 weeks, including work and driving. Walking, however, should resume soon after surgery. We recommend a slow and progressive return to sport, in consultation with the physio, as this is governed by your activity and fitness level and the type of sport played.
What factors could hinder recovery?
The most important factor is to follow what you have been advised to do by your surgeon and physiotherapist. Not being active enough with rehabilitation, or the converse - trying to do too much too soon - will work against you. Recovery is cumulative and progressive, and the vast majority of patients will enjoy a return to an active and pain-free quality of life.
How long does the hip implant last and will the other hip also need to be replaced?
With modern surgical techniques, implant designs and manufacturing materials, most hip implants will have good longevity, often in the region of 15 -20 years or more. There are some patients who have had hip replacements over 30 years ago who are still going strong!