Dr Navin Gurnani
Rotator Cuff Repair
Shoulder Reconstruction
Trauma & Fracture Care
Dr Navin Gurnani’s clinical focus at Southern Orthopaedics is on shoulder conditions and treatment, shaped by more than a decade of clinical and research experience across the Netherlands and Australia, and a PhD dedicated to rotator cuff reconstruction outcomes.
Dr Gurnani received his medical degree at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands — one of Europe’s oldest and most established medical faculties — before undertaking core surgical rotations in vascular surgery, abdominal laparoscopy, oncology, and traumatology, followed by a clinical fellowship providing broad experience in outpatient orthopaedic and general surgical care, perioperative management, and conservative fracture treatment.
Dr Gurnani completed extensive registrar training in orthopaedic surgery in the Netherlands, including arthroscopic shoulder and knee surgery, shoulder, hip, and knee replacement, and foot and ankle surgery at Spaarne Gasthuis, and traumatology and orthopaedic oncology at Radboud University Medical Centre’s Level 1 Trauma Centre in Nijmegen, culminating in a final year focused on shoulder surgery. He then relocated to Australia, completing a fellowship in shoulder, elbow, and knee trauma and reconstruction in Sydney, followed by a further shoulder fellowship under Associate Professor Mark Haber.
Alongside his clinical work, Dr Gurnani completed a PhD at VU University Amsterdam, with his thesis examining latissimus dorsi transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tears. His research has been published in leading orthopaedic and sports medicine journals, including the JSES (Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery) and KSSTA (Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy), with a particular focus on rotator cuff repair outcomes and long head biceps tendon pathology.
He has also presented his work at international meetings including ESSKA Congress (European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy), ISAKOS Biennial Congress, and SECEC Congress.
Today, Dr Gurnani holds the position of Orthopaedic Shoulder, Hip and Knee Fellow at Southern Orthopaedics, based principally in Wollongong. His day-to-day clinical focus is on shoulder conditions and treatment. He is committed to providing evidence-based, patient-centred care, drawing on his combined research and surgical experience to guide each patient’s treatment.
Qualifications:
Medical degree (Geneeskunde), Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, 2012
PhD, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2024 — Latissimus Dorsi Transfer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
Fellowships:
Shoulder, Elbow and Knee Trauma and Reconstruction Fellowship, Sydney, Australia, 2022–2023
Shoulder Fellowship, Southern Orthopaedics, Australia, 2023–present
