Peter M. Choong is an Orthopedic Surgeon based in Melbourne. He works out of St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, in VIC. His work covers both everyday joint problems and more complex bone and soft tissue conditions.
Many people see an orthopaedic surgeon because of pain that won’t settle. This can include issues like osteoarthritis and arthritis, where joints wear down over time. He also looks after problems affecting the knee and hip, including knee replacement and hip replacement when that’s the best option in a patient’s situation.
Peter also supports people with painful bone and joint conditions. That can be things like osteoporosis, frozen shoulder, bursitis, and ongoing aches related to the bones and surrounding tissues. At times, infections can affect joints too, including septic arthritis and infectious arthritis, and these need careful assessment and treatment.
Alongside joint care, he manages a range of bone and tumour-related conditions. This includes bone tumours and different types of soft tissue sarcoma, such as chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, and other sarcomas like clear cell sarcoma. He may also be involved in working through harder diagnoses where a clear cause isn’t obvious right away, such as undifferentiated cases.
When tissue samples are needed, he can help with procedures like tissue biopsy. In some cases, patients may also need treatment planning around things like bone graft, and he works with the wider team to support safer care and good outcomes.
There are also times when infections are part of the picture, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). For patients with serious damage or complications, treatment may include options such as leg or foot amputation, depending on what is safest.
If someone is dealing with pain, a lump, or ongoing changes in a bone or joint, it can feel stressful. Peter’s role is to sort out what’s going on and guide the next steps, whether that means conservative treatment, surgery like joint replacement, or further work-up for tumour-related conditions.