Dr Michael Pritchard

About Pritchard Orthopaedics

Established in 2007 and located at the foothills of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington, Pritchard Orthopaedics is committed to delivering exceptional orthopaedic care in a professional, welcoming, and patient-focused environment. Our dedicated team strives to ensure every patient experience is supportive, efficient, and personalised.

Dr Michael Pritchard

Dr Michael Pritchard is one of Australia’s leading orthopaedic surgeons, specialising in joint replacement surgery, arthroscopic procedures, and sports injury management.

He graduated with an MBBS (Hons) from the University of Tasmania in 1998 and completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training through the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Hobart Hospital. His practice focuses on hip and knee joint replacement, arthroscopic surgery, and the treatment of sports-related injuries.

In 2007, Dr Pritchard completed the inaugural postgraduate fellowship in Hip, Knee and Shoulder Arthroscopy under the mentorship of Mr John O’Donnell. During this fellowship, he gained extensive experience in advanced arthroscopic techniques and worked alongside elite athletes, further developing his expertise in sports medicine and minimally invasive surgery.

Since 2008, Dr Pritchard has specialised in Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. This innovative technique offers significant benefits for appropriately selected patients, including faster recovery and reduced soft tissue disruption. Having performed more than 5,000 DAA procedures, Dr Pritchard continues to refine surgical techniques to optimise patient outcomes. His 15-year results recorded in the National Joint Replacement Registry are outstanding.

Committed to advancing orthopaedic technology and improving surgical precision, Dr Pritchard is trained in multiple robotic-assisted surgical platforms and utilises advanced pre-operative planning tools in joint replacement procedures. He collaborates with leading international medical technology and prosthetic companies to support the development of innovative surgical technologies and implant designs.

Dr Pritchard is a member of the Global Design Team responsible for the development of the Catalystem Primary Hip Stem. (Smith & Nephew CATALYSTEM)

Over 3,000 Catalystem Primary Hip Stems have been implanted in the US so far and over 200 have been performed here in Australia as part of the TGA approval process.  The implant has been exceptionally well received by surgeons in the United States and is one of the fastest-growing hip replacement systems currently available.

Dr Pritchard is using this advanced technology for his patients having implanted over 150 in Tasmania.

With a focus on education and the advancement of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr Pritchard established the Visiting Surgeons Program and Surgical Skills Laboratory in partnership with Calvary HealthCare Hobart.  This utilises the cadaver lab at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.  These initiatives provide opportunities for surgeons from across Australia and internationally to observe live procedures and participate in advanced surgical training.  Over 50 visiting surgeons have attended theatre to improve outcomes in their own countries including the US, UK, Japan, New Zealand and Asia. 

Calvary Hospital Lenah Valley is consistently recognised among Australia’s leading hospitals for joint replacement surgery and is regularly ranked within the nation’s top centres for joint replacement outcomes.