Dr. Bradley Gelbart is one of the most sough-after orthopaedic specialists in Johannesburg. He has a strong interest in orthopaedic sports medicine, which is why most of his patients are athletes. 

He’s well-versed in several multidisciplinary approaches for knee injuries, including platelet therapy, physiotherapy, biokinetics, occupational therapy, and surgery.

Dr. Gelbart also offers his services for arthroscopic shoulder surgery, muscle and tendon injuries, and biological therapy for musculoskeletal injuries.

One thing we love about Dr. Gelbert is aside from being active in sports himself, he’s also very committed to expanding his knowledge in the field. He’s actually part of a review board for both local and international orthopaedic journals.

We’re also impressed with the doctor’s strong professional network. Dr. Gelbert is an executive member of the South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA).

He is also the assigned director of the Johannesburg Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Institute (JOSI) as well as the Clinical Director of the Wits Institute for Sport and Health (WISH).

On top of that, Dr. Gelbert is also recognised by the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), and the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA).

Dr. Gelbert has vast experience in the field and is actually partnered with multiple top sports teams in South Africa, which we find impressive.

However, because of his popularity, Dr. Gelbert’s clinic is highly in-demand. We’re disappointed to hear a number of complaints about the long waiting time at the clinic.

We’re told some patients wait for more than an hour before they’re attended to by the doctor. As a result, the clinic can get very crowded, which can be uncomfortable for patients. 

Dr. Naadir Bismilla is another popular choice when it comes to knee, shoulder, and trauma-related injury surgeries. He’s a high-performing orthopaedic surgeon who’s sought after for his expertise and personal approach to healthcare.

He completed his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand in 2008 and finished his specialisation and his master’s degree in medicine at the same time in 2016, which we find impressive.

Dr. Bismilla is often complimented for his compassionate approach to patient care, which we love. He’s highly regarded by previous patients for being approachable and having great bedside manners.

It’s a plus for us that Dr. Bismilla is very involved in his patient’s cases and makes sure that patients are informed and comfortable every step of the way. We love that the clinic’s staff are active in reaching out to patients in recovery to check on them.

Another feature we found notable about Dr. Bismilla is his enthusiasm for learning. We appreciate his efforts to stay up-to-date with the latest medical techniques and equipment in order to provide the best care possible.

Dr. Bismilla offers a comprehensive list of orthopaedic procedures, mostly focused on the treatment and management of sports injuries, which usually involves the knees and shoulders.

He performs arthroscopic knee surgery, knee replacement surgery, and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction, arthroscopic shoulder surgery, rotator cuff repair, and shoulder instability surgery.

Performance-wise, Dr. Bismilla’s clinic is one of the highest and most-rated orthopaedic specialists in the area. Previous patients appreciate his expertise and efficient solutions and recommend his services, especially for injured athletes.

Take note, though, that there are instances when his clinic can be difficult to reach out to. We wish the clinic’s staff can be more active in attending to perspective patients’ inquiries and concerns. 

Next on our list is Dr. Tim Pikor, another renowned specialist orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in hand and upper limb surgery (elbow) treatment. 

He caters to a very tailored set of conditions, including hand and upper limb surgery, paediatric trauma to hand and elbow, hand and upper limb elective conditions, and orthopaedic trauma to the hand and elbow.

Take note, though, that Dr. Pikor does not treat more common orthopaedic conditions like knee, foot and ankle conditions, as well as patients who are experiencing trouble with their hip and pelvis, spine, neck or back. 

Dr. Pikor’s clinic is located at the Rosebank Medical and Dental Centre. We like that the space is well kept and furnished with world-class facilities. 

However, the hospital’s resources are apparently limited; thus, Dr. Pikor can only attend to stable orthopaedic trauma patients.

Dr. Pikor is one of the leading orthopaedic specialists in the area, and is highly commended by previous patients for his professionalism, patience, and superb patient care. 

We love that he builds a strong relationship with his patients, which is also one of the reasons why we included him on our list. Past patients shared with us how they appreciate the doctor’s effort to help them be comfortable and informed of all the risks.

In addition, the post-treatment care at Dr. Pikor is quite notable. The clinic’s staff are kind and approachable, and patients appreciate how they regularly check on patients during the recovery period.

We’re also impressed to know that Dr. Pikor is a member of multiple renowned organisations such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and the South African Orthopaedic Association. 

Moreover, he’s recognised by the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre. In 2011, Dr. Pikor was awarded the Mannie Lunz Prize for Orthopaedics by the university.

Dr. Heckroodt Laubscher is a renowned orthopaedic surgeon with over 15 years of experience. 

He completed his medical education at the University of Pretoria and his specialisation training in orthopaedic surgery at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.

He also has experience training abroad as he went for a four-month shoulder fellowship in France. 

Also during that time, Dr. Laubscher was able to connect with world-renowned surgeons and expose himself to advanced surgical techniques, research, and product development in the field of shoulder surgery..

Another thing we love about this orthopaedic specialist is his thirst for knowledge and continuous improvement. Dr. Laubscher is also very active in the academe, working as a contributor for the SA Orthopaedic Journal.

Dr. Laubscher is also part of multiple medical associations, including the South African Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons’ Society and the Gauteng Shoulder Surgeons interest group.

The doctor is often commended for his meticulousness. Patients appreciate how he carefully gives out research-based medical advice and listens patiently to what they have to say.

Even the clinic’s support staff are often complimented for their kindness and dedication to helping troubled patients. 

There are just a few complaints about miscommunication about the treatment and scheduling, though the management was quick to address that.

Another thing that concerns us is the unresponsiveness of the clinic’s receptionists to inquiries and requests sent by potential patients. 

Dr. Ponky Firer is a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon based in Johannesburg. He’s considered a veteran in the field, having over 40 years of experience.

He has great interest in sports medicine and specialises in knee health. In fact, he was one of the founders of the first Sports Injury Clinic in Johannesburg in 1976.

We’re impressed that even at an old age, Dr. Firer continues to pursue knowledge and take part in modern research in orthopaedics.

Dr. Firer is also a senior lecturer in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Witwatersrand and a senior consultant at a knee clinic at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

With his breadth of experience also comes a solid network of like-minded professionals. Dr. Firer is part of multiple distinguished medical organisations such as the International Society for Arthroscopy Knee surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS).

He’s also the founder and president of the South African Knee Society. Moreover, Dr. Firer is the director of the Linksfield Orthopaedic Sports and Rehabilitation Center.

Aside from his impressive track record, one of the reasons why Dr. Firer is highly sought after by patients is because of his passion to serve and skills in relationship building. 

Most of his patients have been seeing him for years already, which we commend as it reflects the quality of service they’ve been receiving. Previous patients also appreciate how the nurses at the clinic are friendly and attentive.

However, Dr. Firer’s clinic is apparently very in-demand and is often busy. As a result, the clinic can get congested and cramped. 

There are also a handful of grievances from previous patients whose consultations were rushed to be able to accommodate more people, which isn’t ideal.