Dr Matthew Liptak
Consultant Orthopaedic Knee Surgeon | Sports Injury & Joint Replacement Specialist | Adelaide
Dr Matthew Liptak is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in knee surgery, sports injury management, and joint replacement. A former AFL player turned surgical innovator, he brings together elite performance insight, global surgical training, and a patient-first philosophy to deliver outcomes that feel as strong as they are personal.
He consults through Adelaide Knee Clinic and serves as a long-standing Consultant Surgeon at Flinders Medical Centre.
From AFL Midfielder to Leading Orthopaedic Surgeon and innovator
Before medicine became his full-time pursuit, Dr Liptak spent nearly a decade playing professional AFL with the Adelaide Crows, earning the club’s Best & Fairest medal in 1996. Balancing elite sport with medical study gave him a firsthand understanding of injury, recovery, and resilience, knowledge that shapes his care today.
Having experienced significant soft tissue injuries himself, he knows what it takes to return not just physically, but mentally. Whether treating athletes or everyday patients, his care is built on empathy, urgency, and precision.
Specialised Knee & Sports Injury Care
Dr Liptak offers comprehensive care for a wide range of knee conditions, from ligament injuries to advanced arthritis. His clinical expertise includes:
- ACL reconstruction using advanced graft techniques, including the contralateral quadriceps tendon
- Joint preservation surgery for meniscal tears, cartilage damage, and patellar instability
- Robotic-assisted total knee replacement and customised implants for enhanced surgical precision
- Partial knee replacements for unicompartmental arthritis (also called arthroplasty)
- Complex joint replacement surgery
- Non-surgical treatment pathways for early-stage knee conditions
His surgical techniques are backed by evidence, tailored to each patient’s anatomy and lifestyle, and performed with the latest technology for greater accuracy and recovery.
FREE Knee Pain Assessment
BORIS is a guided self-assessment that evaluates your pain and function to help you understand your knee health and what to do next.
Recovery Starts Before Surgery
Recognising that surgery is just one part of the journey, Dr Liptak integrates recovery planning from day one. He pioneered the use of digital rehabilitation tools like Maxm Skate, enabling patients to track progress, access exercises remotely, and stay in control of their rehabilitation, wherever they are.
This data-led, patient-driven model supports better engagement, faster recovery, and long-term results.
Philosophy
“I treat every patient the way I would treat myself.”
This principle defines Dr Liptak’s approach to care. It means:
- Listening before diagnosing
- Offering honest advice, never pushing for surgery when it’s not necessary
- Using only treatments supported by robust clinical evidence
- Designing surgical plans around your goals, not a one-size-fits-all model
He believes great outcomes come from shared decision-making, technical excellence, and a deep respect for the patient’s journey.
Surgical Training, Research & Global Collaboration
Dr Liptak earned his medical degree from Flinders University and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (Orthopaedics) in 2007. He completed a Clinical Knee Fellowship in Sports and Arthroplasty and has trained in leading orthopaedic centres across Australia, France, the UK, and the US.
He has worked alongside pioneers in knee surgery, including Dr Freddie Fu and Dr Charles Harner at the University of Pittsburgh, and continues to contribute to research in:
- ACL reconstruction techniques
- Meniscal sizing and repair
- Outcomes in total knee arthroplasty
- Digital rehabilitation effectiveness
His research is published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international orthopaedic conferences.
Credentials & Affiliations
- BMBS (1996) - Flinders University
- FRACS (Orthopaedic Surgery) - Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Clinical Knee Fellowship - Sports & Arthroplasty
- Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon - Orthopaedics SA
- Visiting Specialist - Flinders Medical Centre
- Member - Australian Knee Society
- Former AFL Player - Adelaide Crows, Best & Fairest (1996)
- Innovator - Co-developer of digital rehabilitation technologies
Dr Matthew Liptak’s practice is built on the intersection of high-performance sport, surgical precision, and evidence-led care. Whether you’re managing a new knee injury or exploring advanced joint replacement, he’s here to help you move better, recover stronger, and return to what matters most, with confidence.
Explore Treatments
Non-Operative Management
Joint Preservation
Joint Replacement & Arthroplasty
Recovery & Rehabilitation
Together with discipline of elite sport, the precision of modern surgery, and the imagination of innovation, his unique background informs a professional style that is technically advanced, personally grounded, and always forward-thinking, a balance that defines his approach to orthopaedic care.