Munjed Al Muderis is not your typical surgeon. He fled Bagdad as a young medical student during Saddam Hussein’s rule. He spent time on Christmas Island as a refugee. And after starting a new life in Australia, he has since become a pioneering surgeon at Macquarie University Hospital. Associate Professor Al Muderis is gaining worldwide attention for his remarkable surgical work with amputees and in particular, his success using a revolutionary technique called osseointegration.
Osseointegration is where an implant is inserted into an amputee’s residual limb. When the implant integrates with the bone, it allows for a simple, quick and safe connection between the stump and an artificial limb. The procedure is providing amputees with greater mobility, comfort and quality of life.
While osseointegration is also practiced in Germany, Sweden and Holland, Associate Professor Al Muderis and his team have significantly refined the process and implant materials in Australia. As a result he says, the European centres are now following Australia’s innovative lead and more and more patients are opting to have the ground-breaking procedure here.
“Patients are coming from around the world to Australia for the osseointegration operation and that really confirms we are doing something right here,” said Associate Professor Al Muderis.
“Even the British military is sending its injured soldiers here for the operation instead of the European centres because they trust the pioneering work we do in Australia.”
Associate Professor Al Muderis has performed more than 115 osseointegration operations, which he believes is the world record for a single surgeon. He is averaging two such operations per week.
The leading orthopaedic hip and knee surgeon believes that with Australia’s reputation in this space, Macquarie University Hospital is in a unique position to position itself as an international centre of excellence.
“The great opportunity now is with the combination of osseointegration and robotics,” Associate Professor Al Muderis said.
“It’s truly exciting work where we can give amputees the ability to operate robotic limbs, integrated with their bodies, simply using mind control.”
“I believe Macquarie University Hospital can become a global centre of excellence in this area through ongoing research and collaboration, building on the achievements we have made so far.
“The future is very promising.”
Associate Professor Al Muderis is a key member of the Osseointegration Group of Australia which supports research and training in this space. He is a Clinical Lecturer at Macquarie University and also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Sydney Campus at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He is one of a handful of surgeons worldwide who has special expertise in trans-femoral and trans-humeral amputations, providing patients with robotic artificial limbs using trans-cutaneous osseointegrated technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Australian Orthopaedic Association, International Society for Hip Arthroscopy and Orthopaedic Surgical Osseointegration Society.
Osseointegration is where an implant is inserted into an amputee’s residual limb. When the implant integrates with the bone, it allows for a simple, quick and safe connection between the stump and an artificial limb. The procedure is providing amputees with greater mobility, comfort and quality of life.
While osseointegration is also practiced in Germany, Sweden and Holland, Associate Professor Al Muderis and his team have significantly refined the process and implant materials in Australia. As a result he says, the European centres are now following Australia’s innovative lead and more and more patients are opting to have the ground-breaking procedure here.
“Patients are coming from around the world to Australia for the osseointegration operation and that really confirms we are doing something right here,” said Associate Professor Al Muderis.
“Even the British military is sending its injured soldiers here for the operation instead of the European centres because they trust the pioneering work we do in Australia.”
Associate Professor Al Muderis has performed more than 115 osseointegration operations, which he believes is the world record for a single surgeon. He is averaging two such operations per week.
The leading orthopaedic hip and knee surgeon believes that with Australia’s reputation in this space, Macquarie University Hospital is in a unique position to position itself as an international centre of excellence.
“The great opportunity now is with the combination of osseointegration and robotics,” Associate Professor Al Muderis said.
“It’s truly exciting work where we can give amputees the ability to operate robotic limbs, integrated with their bodies, simply using mind control.”
“I believe Macquarie University Hospital can become a global centre of excellence in this area through ongoing research and collaboration, building on the achievements we have made so far.
“The future is very promising.”
Associate Professor Al Muderis is a key member of the Osseointegration Group of Australia which supports research and training in this space. He is a Clinical Lecturer at Macquarie University and also an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Sydney Campus at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He is one of a handful of surgeons worldwide who has special expertise in trans-femoral and trans-humeral amputations, providing patients with robotic artificial limbs using trans-cutaneous osseointegrated technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Australian Orthopaedic Association, International Society for Hip Arthroscopy and Orthopaedic Surgical Osseointegration Society.
