About Dr Varun Arora
BMedSc (Hons), MBBS (Hons), FRACS (Ortho), FAOrthA
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Pelvis | Hip | Knee | Trauma
Mr Varun Arora is an Australian-trained orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialist expertise in surgery of the pelvis, hip and knee. He treats patients with arthritis, sports knee injuries, complex hip conditions and failed or painful joint replacements, as well as adults and children with acute fractures and orthopaedic injuries.
His practice encompasses joint-preserving treatment, direct anterior approach hip replacement, robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement, revision hip and knee surgery, ACL reconstruction and sports knee surgery, pelvic and acetabular surgery, and complex trauma reconstruction.
Patient centered-approach
Varun believes that successful treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis, a clear explanation of the available options and a plan built around each patient's individual goals. He takes time to explain the condition, the expected recovery and the advantages and limitations of both surgical and non-surgical treatment.
Where non-operative care is likely to help, he prioritises it. When surgery is appropriate, he combines contemporary, evidence-based techniques with careful patient-specific preparation, precise techniques and a coordinated multidisciplinary recovery plan. His aim is to reduce pain, restore function and help each patient return safely and confidently to the activities that matter to them.
Areas of Expertise
Hip
Direct anterior approach hip replacement; robotic-assisted hip replacement; hip preservation; complex primary and revision hip replacement; periprosthetic fracture surgery
Knee
Robotic-assisted knee replacement; revision knee replacement; ACL reconstruction; meniscal and cartilage surgery; sports knee injuries
Pelvis and acetabulum
Pelvic and acetabular fracture reconstruction; complex hip trauma; reconstruction for fragility fractures and selected complex pelvic conditions
Trauma
Adult and paediatric fractures; complex peri-articular injuries; fracture complications; urgent assessment of acute orthopaedic injuries
Education & Australian specialist training
Varun grew up in India and New Zealand and completed high school in Hamilton, New Zealand before moving to Melbourne to study medicine. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2009 with a Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honours. He subsequently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy at the University of Melbourne.
He undertook specialist orthopaedic training through the Australian Orthopaedic Association across multiple hospitals in Victoria and Tasmania. In 2022, he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Orthopaedic Surgery and became a Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association.
Consultant & advanced fellowship experience
In 2023, Varun worked as a full-time consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Austin Health, managing high-acuity adult and paediatric trauma and undertaking hip and knee replacement and sports knee surgery.
He then completed advanced subspecialty fellowship training with the Melbourne Orthopaedic Group, gaining further experience in direct anterior approach hip replacement, complex and revision hip surgery, robotic-assisted knee replacement, hip preservation and sports knee surgery.
Varun subsequently travelled to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, one of the United Kingdom's busiest major trauma centres, for a 12-month Pelvic, Acetabular and Revision Hip replacement fellowship. As the unit's primary pelvic and acetabular fellow, he developed extensive experience in complex pelvic and acetabular reconstruction, periprosthetic fractures, revision hip replacement and combined fixation-and-replacement procedures for complex acetabular fractures in older patients.
His fellowship experience was complemented by focused visiting fellowships in France, Switzerland and Austria with specialist surgeons in direct anterior hip replacement, hip preservation and complex hip reconstruction. This combination of Australian and international training allows him to tailor treatment to the individual patient, from joint-preserving care through to complex reconstruction and revision surgery using multiple contemporary techniques.
Outside the operating theatre
Outside the operating theatre, Varun is a devoted husband and father to two young children and enjoys spending his spare time with his family. A passionate traveller, he has a lifelong ambition to explore every corner of the world, experience its different cultures and sample the local cuisine wherever his travels take him.
Varun is also an avid sports follower, with cricket being his greatest passion. He also enjoys following soccer, AFL and tennis, and occasionally finds time for a round of golf. His enthusiasm for sport sits naturally alongside his clinical interest in sports knee injuries and helping patients return confidently to the activities they enjoy.
Qualifications and professional credentials
BMedSc(Hons): Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours, University of Melbourne
MBBS(Hons): Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with Honours, University of Melbourne
PGDipSurgAnat: Postgraduate Diploma in Surgical Anatomy, University of Melbourne
FRACS(Orth): Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Orthopaedic Surgery
FAOrthA: Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association
Fellowships
Hip Reconstruction Fellowship – Melbourne Orthopaedic Group with Mr. Jit Balakumar and Mr. David Young
Pelvic, Acetabular, Major Trauma, Revision Hip Fellowship – Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom with Mr. Jai Rawal, Mr. Andrew Carotthers, Mr. Peter Hull, Mr. Daud Chou and Mr. Karl Logan
Hip Fellow - Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland with Mr. Moritz Tannast
Visiting Anterior Hip Replacement Fellowships
Prof. Frederic Laude, Clinique du Sport, Paris, France
Prof. Richard Field, SWELOC, Epsom, UK
Prof. Michael Leunig, Schulthess Klinik, Switzerland
Mr. Mark Higgins, Nottingham City Hospital, UK
Mr. Thomas Aubert, Groupe Hospitalier, Paris, France
