Research

I am a founding member and director of the Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Institute (POSMRI), where we undertake high-quality industry-leading research.
We have a team of highly trained researchers, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and research fellows who have years of active research and clinical experience.
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Dr Ross Radic Research

At the core of our research is the Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine (POSM) Performance Lab and our Advanced Clinical Care team. This state-of-the-art testing facility is the only one of its kind in Western Australia and is overseen by some of Perth’s leading researchers and musculoskeletal experts.

I have numerous publications in internationally renowned journals, supervise a number of research projects and am regularly asked to present on my research, clinical and surgical techniques around the world.

How our research benefits patients

How my research benefits patients

According to Australia’s former chief scientist, it takes over 15 years for new research evidence to be incorporated into clinical practice. Fifteen years!

Some of that time is justified. Research must be done meticulously, using rigorous scientific methods and subject to the scrutiny of peer review. But once we know that a new technique is superior to an existing one, we need the confidence  (and willingness) to change practice.

My colleagues and I are actively involved in research because we want to be able to offer you new, improved treatments as soon as there is a strong evidence base – not 15 years later. 

I love belonging to an active research community, surrounded by insightful people with curious minds. Conversations can spark ideas, leading to research projects, which may eventually lead to new treatment models. It requires careful, methodical work – but it can be extremely rewarding!

The Perth Knee Fellowship

I direct the Perth Knee Fellowship through my role at the Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Institute.

Conducted across both the public and private sectors, the Perth Knee Fellowship runs for 6 months and provides aspiring knee surgeons with the opportunity to gain skills in managing patients with complex knee problems.

Key interest areas include:
  • ACL and revision ACL reconstruction
  • Multi-ligament knee reconstruction, complex knee trauma 
  • Primary and revision knee arthroplasty
  • Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty 
  • Robotically-assisted knee replacement 
  • Knee preservation surgery, meniscal and osteochondral allograft transplant 
  • Osteotomy and re-alignment surgery.
The prospective fellow will:
  • Spend time in surgery
  • Assess patients in the clinic – including weekly attendance at grand rounds and clinical meetings
  • Undertake clinical research with journal publication expected
  • Be encouraged to attend and present at local, national and international meetings.

Current Studies

Dr Ross Radic, Dr Nicholas Calvert, Dr Jay Ebert

Currently, approximately 90% of ACL Reconstruction procedures in Australia are performed using a graft made from the patient’s hamstring tendons. There is evolving debate as to whether a graft made from the patients quadriceps tendons may result in better post-operative outcomes with greater patient satisfaction. This study aims to help answer these questions, with the use of gold-standard reconstructive techniques with strength and functional assessments from our clinical research team.

PATIENT INFORMATION

ACL: Hamstring vs Quad Tendon (Download PDF)

Dr Ross Radic, Dr Nicholas Calvert, Dr Jay Ebert

Currently, approximately 90% of ACL Reconstruction procedures in Australia are performed using a graft made from the patient’s hamstring tendons. There is evolving debate as to whether a graft made from the patients quadriceps tendons may result in better post-operative outcomes with greater patient satisfaction. This study aims to help answer these questions, with the use of gold-standard reconstructive techniques with strength and functional assessments from our clinical research team.

PATIENT INFORMATION

ACL: Hamstring vs Quad Tendon (Download PDF)

Dr Ross Radic, Dr Elizabeth Garcia, Dr Davide Tomassoni, Dr Jay Ebert

Multi-ligament Injuries in the knee are a complex group of injuries which historically have less favourable long-term outcomes with higher rates of post-traumatic osteoarthritis, ongoing knee instability and a decreased functional capacity. They are best described as knee injuries with disruption of at least two of the four major knee ligament structures including Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Posterior Cruciate Ligament, Medial Collateral Ligament and/or Posteromedial Corner and Lateral Collateral Ligament and/or Posterolateral Corner.

Dr Ross Radic has a special interest in complex knee injuries. At Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre, together with his involvement at Royal Perth Hospital, housing the State Trauma Centre, Dr Radic often manages the most complex knee injuries. The POSM Research Institute are aiming to prospectively follow patients suffering these traumatic knee injuries assessing their long term outcomes and functional recovery.

Dr Abay Sundaram, Dr Mira Marinova, Ms Katie Holtham, Dr Jay Ebert, Dr Ross Radic

Following ACL Reconstruction, patients are encouraged to engage in rehabilitation programs that rebuild muscle strength, proprioceptive control and regain joint mobility. One of the primary issues that limit the active rehabilitation of the patient is the early pain and swelling that comes with orthopaedic knee surgery. While elastic wraps and ice-packs are used most commonly in the application of post-operative cryotherapy, the Game Ready systems offers a novel method of administering constant cryotherapy, at a consistent temperature, with intermittent pneumatic compression. This study aims to investigate the functional outcomes of the use of the Game Ready system in the early post-operative period compared with a more traditional method of delivering cryotherapy and compression.

ACL & GameReady (Download PDF)

ACL & GameReady (Download PDF)

Dr Mira Marinova, Dr Abay Sundaram, Ms Katie Holtham, Dr Jay Ebert, Dr Ross Radic

Total Knee Replacement (TKA) is primarily performed to alleviate pain and improve function for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. This is a major orthopaedic procedure, with expected pain, swelling and inflammation post-operatively. Reducing these measures with the use of cryotherapy and dynamic compression improves patient comfort, reduces swelling and allows patients to participate in a greater amount of post-operative rehabilitation. We aim to investigate the use of the Game Ready System, a novel tool allowing constant cryotherapy and intermittent compression, and assess its outcomes compared with a more traditional method of cryotherapy delivery.

ACL & GameReady (Download PDF)

  • Hamstring Tendon Autograft Versus Quadriceps Tendon Autograft for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
  • A Prospective Study Investigating Patient Outcome Following Surgical Reconstruction for Multi-Ligament Knee Injuries.
  • Combined Cryotherpay and Intermittend Dynamic Compression Compared With Conventional Ice and Static Compression in Post-operative Anterior Cruciate Reconstructions: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
  • Post-operative Use of Game Ready Cryocompression System versus Conventional Ice and Compression for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA): A Propsective, Randomised Controlled Trial.
  • ACL Reconstruction – Return to play guidelines and assessment. A prospective study.
  • Anatomical ACL Repair – A Prospective Series of ACL repairs in the active population
  • Isolated Meniscal Repair – Clinical and Radiological Results
  • Post-operative pain and swelling management in knee reconstruction and arthroplasty surgery (Gameready)
  • Graft options in ACL Reconstruction
  • Meniscal Transplant and Osteochondral Transplant Surgery – long term outcomes and survival

Dr Radic is a founding member and Director of the Perth Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Institute, partaking in high quality industry-leading research.

For more information on the work of the POSM Research Institute, please visit posmresearchinstitute.org.au

Publications and Presentations

Professional memberships

I’m an active member of many Australian and international professional societies, including: