Sports Knee and Hip Arthroscopy

The sports knee team treats knee injuries and conditions in active people, including primary and revision ACL reconstruction, meniscal surgery and cartilage restoration, patellofemoral stabilisation and joint-preserving osteotomy. Hip arthroscopy, including labral repair and treatment of femoroacetabular impingement, is also part of the service.

Our Surgeons

• Mr Scott Tulloch, Head of Sports Knee Surgery
• Mr Lachlan Batty
• Mr Matt Free
• Professor Phong Tran, hip arthroscopy

Fellowship

• Sports Knee and Hip Arthroscopy Fellowship, commencing February 2027
• Anterior Hip and Hip Arthroscopy Fellowship, AOA accredited

Current Research

• STACLR, a randomised trial of suture tape augmentation of hamstring ACL reconstruction. All 66 participants are randomised and two-year follow-up continues through 2027.
• Routine collection of patient-reported outcomes after ACL reconstruction, including return to sport.
• Biomarkers of cartilage metabolism after ACL reconstruction, in collaboration with other Melbourne centres.

Past Research

Western Health was a site for the multicentre randomised trial comparing hip arthroscopy with physiotherapist-led care for femoroacetabular impingement, and its follow-on studies of hip loading, walking and squatting. The team has also studied bone debris after different tibial tunnel drilling techniques in ACL reconstruction and the biomechanics of suture tape augmentation.

Publications by Year

Selected Publications

Recent and earlier papers with members of the team among the authors.

1. Huntington L, Griffith A, Spiers L, Pile R, Batty L, Tulloch S, Tran P. Suture-tape augmentation of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomised controlled trial (STACLR). Trials. 2023;24(1):224. doi:10.1186/s13063-023-07127-0
2. Batty L, Huntington LS, Chung T, Spiers L, Tulloch S, Webster KE, Tran P. The Effect of Tibial Tunnel Drilling Technique on Retained Intra-Articular Bone Debris Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2023;5(2):e337-e343. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2022.12.002
3. E A Mackenzie C, Huntington LS, Tulloch S. Suture Tape Augmentation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Increases Biomechanical Stability: A Scoping Review of Biomechanical, Animal, and Clinical Studies. Arthroscopy. 2022;38(6):2073-2089. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2021.12.036
4. Batty LM, Huynh M, Webster KE, Vassileff N, Spiers JG, Klemm HJ, Devitt BM, Whitehead TS, Hill AF, Feller JA. Higher Day of Surgery Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Concentration Is Associated With Failing to Achieve the KOOS-4 and IKDC Patient Acceptable Symptom State at 6 Years After ACL Reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2026;54(4):796-807. doi:10.1177/03635465261416921
5. Batty LM, Huynh M, Webster KE, Vassileff N, Spiers J, Klemm HJ, Devitt BM, Whitehead TS, Hill AF, Feller JA. Systemic Biomarkers of Chondral Metabolism and Matrix Remodeling After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Study. Am J Sports Med. 2025;53(13):3068-3077. doi:10.1177/03635465251376616
6. Röhm J, Klemm HJ, Batty LM, McClelland JA, Devitt BM, Whitehead TS, Webster KE, Feller JA. Modified Star Excursion Balance Testing at 12 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Is There a Difference Between Quadriceps or Hamstring Tendon Autografts? Orthop J Sports Med. 2025;13(4):23259671251331044. doi:10.1177/23259671251331044
7. Murphy NJ, Eyles J, Spiers L, Davidson E, Kim YJ, Linklater JM, Afacan O, Bennell KL, Burns A, Diamond LE, Dickenson E, Fary C, Foster NE, Fripp J, Grieve SM, Griffin DR, Heller G, Molnar R, Neubert A, O’Donnell J, O’Sullivan M, Randhawa S, Reichenbach S, Singh P, Tran P, Hunter DJ. Moderators, Mediators, and Prognostic Indicators of Treatment With Hip Arthroscopy or Physical Therapy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Secondary Analyses From the Australian FASHIoN Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2023;51(1):141-154. doi:10.1177/03635465221136547
8. Hunter DJ, Eyles J, Murphy NJ, Spiers L, Burns A, Davidson E, Dickenson E, Fary C, Foster NE, Fripp J, Griffin DR, Hall M, Kim YJ, Linklater JM, Molnar R, Neubert A, O’Connell RL, O’Donnell J, O’Sullivan M, Randhawa S, Reichenbach S, Schmaranzer F, Singh P, Tran P, Wilson D, Zhang H, Bennell KL. Multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing arthroscopic hip surgery to physiotherapist-led care for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome on hip cartilage metabolism: the Australian FASHIoN trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):697. doi:10.1186/s12891-021-04576-z

See all of the Department’s subspecialty teams, or read more about the Department’s research.