About Dr John Limbers
25+ years, focused on hip and knee.
Dr John Limbers is an Orthopaedic Surgeon whose practice is focused on hip and knee arthritis and Mako robotic-assisted primary and revision joint replacement.
Dr John Limbers
MBBS (Hons 1) · BSc (Med) · FRACS · FAOrthA
Biography
Across more than 25+ years in orthopaedic practice, he has completed over 5,000+ hip and knee replacements, including over 3,000+ using Mako robotic-arm assisted technology — one of Australia’s largest individual case series of patients in Australia.
Dr Limbers completed his undergraduate medical education with First Class Honours at the University of New South Wales, then trained in orthopaedic surgery through the Australian Orthopaedic Association training program in Sydney, obtaining Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2003.
Following specialist training in Australia, Dr Limbers undertook further international subspecialty experience at Addenbrooke’s University Hospital in Cambridge, England, and Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Both are high-volume orthopaedic centres, and these fellowships provided institutional training in hip and knee replacement surgery.
Dr Limbers became an early adopter of robotic-assisted joint replacement. He was the first surgeon in New South Wales to perform a Mako robotic total knee replacement outside pre-release clinical assessments. He performs knee replacements with the incision towards the side of the knee, to allow more comfortable kneeling. He utilises Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) techniques to help patients recover faster and leave hospital sooner.
He routinely performs Mako robotic-assisted anterior total hip replacement with functional planning. He was one of the first surgeons in Australia to develop this technique.
Dr Limbers has considerable experience in orthopaedic education and training. He teaches Mako robotic joint replacement techniques to surgeons nationally and internationally. He is a former Australian Orthopaedic Association Director of Training and has been involved in the selection and training of orthopaedic trainees for the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He has presented at national and international meetings and has authored clinical research papers and review articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is cited in Apley’s System of Orthopaedics and Fractures.
Outside medicine, Dr Limbers enjoys reading, surfing, rugby union and the violin. He is married with five children and has participated in voluntary aid projects in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the Philippines and Western Samoa. He is a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society and, with his children, volunteers providing meals to people experiencing homelessness.
Special interests
Mako robotic-assisted anterior total hip replacement
Mako robotic-assisted total knee replacement
Mako robotic-assisted partial knee replacement
Mako robotic-assisted revision hip replacement
Mako robotic-assisted revision knee replacement
Complex hip and knee reconstructive surgery
Functional hip planning and spinopelvic assessment
Training & appointments
Orthopaedic surgical registrar training through the Australian Orthopaedic Association training program in Sydney
Fellowship — Addenbrooke’s University Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Fellowship — Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Director of Training at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals for Sydney Northside and Newcastle Advanced Orthopaedic Trainees (2010–2015)
Involved in the selection and training of orthopaedic trainees for the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Presenter at national and international orthopaedic meetings
Research
Dr Limbers has contributed to clinical research across joint replacement and orthopaedic trauma. His work includes peer-reviewed original research, review articles and participation in multicentre randomised clinical trials.
He is a contributor to the RASKAL trial — the Australian registry-nested randomised trial of robotic-assisted surgery and functional alignment in total knee replacement, published in the Bone & Joint Journal in 2026. This research involvement complements his clinical experience using robotic-assisted joint replacement.
Experience in numbers
A quarter-century of practice, and one of Australia's largest individual robotic case series.
- years of specialist orthopaedic experience
- 25+
- hip & knee replacements performed
- 5,000+
- Mako robotic-assisted procedures
- 3,000+
Knee replacement
CT-planned, individually balanced.
In knee replacement, Dr Limbers uses CT-based planning and intraoperative assessment to individualise implant positioning and soft-tissue balance. His surgical pathway incorporates multimodal pain management, local anaesthetic infiltration and early mobilisation.
Surgical interests
Anterior hip replacement and functional planning.
His current surgical interests include Mako anterior total hip replacement, Mako total and partial knee replacement, and Mako-assisted revision hip and knee replacement. He also uses functional hip planning to consider the relationship between the hip, pelvis and spine when planning total hip replacements.
Point of difference
Why patients choose Dr Limbers.
One of Australia’s largest individual case series of Mako robotic hip and knee replacement (3,000+ patients)
More than 5,000+ hip and knee replacements over 25+ year career
Fellowship training at two high-volume international joint replacement centres
Functional hip planning and spinopelvic assessment
Anterior approach hip replacement with robotic assistance
Revision hip and knee replacement, including robotic-assisted revision
Contributor to the RASKAL trial
Former Director of Training, Australian Orthopaedic Association
In his own words
Personal Q&As.
Why did you choose orthopaedic surgery?
I chose Orthopaedic Surgery because it is reconstructive surgery that positively transforms the lives of people of all ages. As such, it is an incredibly rewarding career to devote my life to, and absolutely worth the many years of training and experience.
What do you find most rewarding about hip and knee replacement surgery?
I enjoy the combination of technical skill and execution, the extensive knowledge required and the high level of technological precision in hip and knee replacement surgery. Most rewarding is the many patients who have thanked me for transforming their lives.
Which teachers or mentors most influenced your approach?
I had many inspirational mentors, including Dr Lawrie Giutronich and Dr Myles Coolican in my training days.
How do you decide whether someone needs surgery?
For surgery to be appropriate there should be objective hip or knee joint pathology combined with significant symptoms interfering with daily activities, work or leisure. The patient should have tried non-surgical treatments such and pain relief and strengthening exercises. The surgery, including expectations and recovery, will be thoroughly discussed with the patient prior to organising the operation.
What do you enjoy outside medicine?
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, surfing, rugby union and playing the violin. I am also interested in aid projects in developing countries and have participated in voluntary work in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the Philippines and Western Samoa. I currently surf regularly at Sydney’s Northern Beaches and on the Central Coast, as well as at an artificial wavepool (Urbnsurf) in Sydney.
Book an Appointment Today
If hip or knee pain is impacting your quality of life, Dr Limbers can assess whether joint replacement or another treatment option is appropriate for you.
Appointments are available at Wahroonga on the North Shore, and at North Gosford and Kanwal on the Central Coast. A current referral is generally requested and allows eligible Medicare patients to claim the relevant rebate.