Knee surgeon for Brighton and Bayside patients
Dr Vishal Pai (MBChB, FRACS, FAOrthA) is a Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon whose practice is focused on the knee. His consulting rooms are at Sandringham Orthopaedic Specialists on Bay Road, Sandringham, close to home for patients from Brighton, Hampton, Elwood, Black Rock, Beaumaris and across Bayside.
Where you will be seen
Your consultations take place at Sandringham Orthopaedic Specialists, in the heart of Bayside. If surgery is recommended, Dr Pai operates at two private hospitals in Melbourne’s south-east and inner south.
Where surgery takes place
- Calvary Holmesglen Private Hospital (formerly Holmesglen Private Hospital), 490 South Road, Moorabbin
Approximately 15 minutes by car from Brighton - The Avenue Hospital, 40 The Avenue, Windsor
Approximately 20 minutes by car from Brighton
Consulting rooms
Sandringham Orthopaedic Specialists
Suite 1, 60 Bay Road
Sandringham VIC 3191
(03) 8657 0595
Getting to the Sandringham rooms
The rooms are at 60 Bay Road, Sandringham, a short drive from anywhere between Elwood and Mordialloc. When you book, the reception team will be happy to provide directions and advice on parking.
If you are travelling by public transport, the Sandringham line runs through Elsternwick, Brighton and Hampton, and Sandringham Station is a short walk from the rooms. From Mentone, Mordialloc and further south, the rooms are a short drive along Beach Road or the Nepean Highway.
Dr Pai sees patients from across Bayside, including Elwood, Elsternwick, Brighton, Brighton East, Hampton, Hampton East, Sandringham, Highett, Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc, as well as Bentleigh, Aspendale, Edithvale and Chelsea.
Care shared with your local physiotherapist
Much of the treatment for a knee problem, before and after any operation, takes place with a physiotherapist. If you already see a physiotherapist in Bayside, you can keep working with them, and Dr Pai will share your diagnosis and rehabilitation plan with them.
If you have a knee replacement with Dr Pai and need inpatient rehabilitation afterwards, this can be arranged close to home, such as at Epworth Brighton, Calvary Holmesglen Private Hospital in Moorabbin or Masada Private Hospital in St Kilda East.
- Physiotherapy close to home or work, with the physiotherapist you already know or one near you.
- Follow-up appointments at the Sandringham rooms, or by telehealth where appropriate.
- Dr Pai keeps your general practitioner and physiotherapist informed, so that everyone involved in your care is working to the same plan.
About Dr Vishal Pai
Dr Pai completed his orthopaedic training through the Australian Orthopaedic Association program in Melbourne before undertaking further training in knee surgery overseas. At Southmead Hospital in Bristol, he focused on patellofemoral stabilisation and on partial and revision knee replacement. At the Fortius Clinic in London, his work centred on primary and revision ACL reconstruction, multi-ligament knee reconstruction and complex meniscal repair. In 2015 he also completed a six-month international fellowship in paediatric orthopaedics at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland, USA.
In addition to his private practice, Dr Pai is Director of Training for Orthopaedic Surgery at Sandringham Hospital, Bayside Health, where he supervises orthopaedic surgeons in training. He is also involved in clinical research.
- Qualifications
MBChB (Otago), FRACS, FAOrthA - Knee fellowships
Southmead Hospital, Bristol; Fortius Clinic, London - Paediatric fellowship
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Portland, USA - Teaching
Director of Training for Orthopaedic Surgery, Sandringham Hospital, Bayside Health - Professional memberships
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons; Australian Orthopaedic Association
Knee conditions Dr Pai treats
Most people who see Dr Pai from Bayside fall into one of two groups: active people with a knee injury, often from sport, and people with knee arthritis who want to know whether a knee replacement is worth considering. Not every knee problem requires an operation. Your first consultation focuses on reaching a clear diagnosis and discussing the options that suit you, including non-surgical treatment.
Sports injuries and knee preservation
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and other ligament injuries, meniscal tears, cartilage damage and kneecap instability are common among people who lead an active life, whether at footy, soccer or netball, on the tennis court or at the beach. Dr Pai has treated knee injuries in players from local clubs including Beaumaris and Hampton Rovers football clubs. Treatment is planned around your injury, your season and the activities you would like to return to.
Knee arthritis and replacement
An assessment for knee arthritis considers how your knee affects walking, sleep, work and the things you enjoy, and what treatment you have already tried. Options range from exercise, physiotherapy and weight management to partial, total and robotic-assisted knee replacement, as well as revision surgery when a previous replacement has not been successful.
Your first appointment
A new patient appointment takes approximately 30 minutes. Dr Pai will discuss your symptoms, examine your knee, review your scans and explain your options, so that you leave with a clear plan.
Your first appointment needs to be in person so that your knee can be examined. After that, follow-up appointments can usually be arranged by telehealth in appropriate circumstances.
Consultation fees and Medicare rebates are listed on the Appointments and Fees page. If surgery is recommended, you will receive a written quote before anything is booked.
Before you visit
- Ask your general practitioner for a referral to Dr Vishal Pai. A current referral is required to claim the Medicare rebate.
- Bring any X-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound images, or let the rooms know where they were performed so that access can be arranged.
- Complete the New Patient Registration Form before your appointment.
- Wear shorts or loose trousers so that your knee can be examined comfortably.
Questions from Bayside patients
Where does Dr Pai consult in Bayside?
Dr Pai consults at Sandringham Orthopaedic Specialists, Suite 1, 60 Bay Road, Sandringham, a short walk from Sandringham Station. Surgery is performed at Calvary Holmesglen Private Hospital in Moorabbin or The Avenue Hospital in Windsor.
I've hurt my knee playing community sport in Bayside. Can Dr Pai help?
Yes. Dr Pai sees players with knee injuries from clubs and competitions across Bayside, including the Sandringham Zebras, Sandringham Soccer Club and Beaumaris Soccer Club. Many knee injuries, including some ACL and meniscal tears, can be managed without an operation. Your first appointment focuses on a clear diagnosis and a plan for returning to sport safely.
Can I keep seeing my own physiotherapist?
Yes. You can continue with the physiotherapist you already see. Dr Pai will keep them informed about your diagnosis, any operation and your rehabilitation plan.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A current referral from your general practitioner or another specialist is required to claim the Medicare rebate. Your doctor can address the referral to Dr Vishal Pai at Sandringham Orthopaedic Specialists.
Will I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many knee problems, including some ACL and meniscal injuries, can be managed without an operation. Dr Pai will explain both the surgical and non-surgical options so that you can make an informed decision.
Is robotic knee replacement right for everyone?
No. Robotic-arm assistance is one way of planning and performing a knee replacement, and it is not needed for every knee. Dr Pai will explain whether he recommends it for you and why.
Does Dr Pai see WorkSafe or TAC patients?
Dr Pai does not currently provide private consultations for WorkSafe or TAC claims. If you have a claim, please ask your general practitioner for a referral to a surgeon who participates in those schemes.
How do I make an appointment?
Please call the rooms on (03) 8657 0595 or send an enquiry, and the team will arrange a time that suits you.
Arrange a knee consultation
The team would be pleased to help you arrange an appointment. Call (03) 8657 0595 or send an enquiry, and please have your referral and any scans ready.