About
Dr Kalman Piper
MBBS, FRACS (Orth), FAOrthA. Orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty interest in advanced shoulder surgery and orthopaedic trauma.
Dr Kalman Piper is an Australian-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He completed his FRACS in 2009, then spent a year as a fellow of Dr Laurent Lafosse at the Alps Surgery Institute in Annecy, France. He has been in continuous practice in Sydney since 2010, with a parallel role teaching shoulder surgery to other surgeons across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.
About Dr Piper
International Speaker
Beijing, 2018.
Areas of expertise
Where Dr Piper's practice focuses
Dr Piper completed advanced fellowship training in shoulder surgery in Annecy, France with Dr Laurent Lafosse, a world leader in shoulder arthroscopy and pioneer of the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure, minimally invasive shoulder replacement, and arthroscopic nerve release. His current practice has a particular focus on the following areas.
Reverse shoulder replacement
For cuff tear arthropathy, irreparable rotator cuff tears with pseudoparalysis, and complex proximal humerus fractures.
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Including massive and complex tears requiring tendon transfer or augmentation.
Surgery for shoulder instability
Arthroscopic labral repair where appropriate, and the open Latarjet procedure for complex or recurrent instability.
Anatomic and minimally invasive shoulder replacement
For shoulder arthritis with an intact rotator cuff.
Arthroscopic nerve release
Including suprascapular nerve release for entrapment syndromes affecting the shoulder.
General orthopaedic trauma
Complex shoulder and upper-limb fractures, with public operating at Westmead Hospital.
Training
Fellowship in Annecy
After completing FRACS in 2009, Dr Piper undertook a year of advanced shoulder surgery fellowship training at the Alps Surgery Institute in Annecy, France, under Drs Laurent Lafosse and Bruno Toussaint. The year covered advanced instability management, the arthroscopic Latarjet procedure, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, anatomic and reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and minimally invasive shoulder arthroplasty.
Following the fellowship, Dr Piper joined the Mitek Shoulder Institute in Annecy as a faculty member (2009 to 2010), instructing visiting surgeons at Lafosse's advanced shoulder arthroscopy workshops. The teaching role continued in different forms over the years that followed and remains a defining part of his practice.
International teaching faculty
Teaching shoulder surgery to other surgeons
Dr Piper has been invited to lecture and perform live surgical demonstrations at orthopaedic education events across Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. His teaching has reached well over 2,000 surgeons internationally, with a recent focus on reverse total shoulder replacement and arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Visiting orthopaedic surgeons regularly observe his operating theatres in Sydney to learn advanced shoulder surgery techniques, including surgeons from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, and Israel.
2025
Faculty, Zimmer Biomet Shoulder Course, Thailand. International faculty for shoulder surgery teaching with focus on reverse shoulder replacement.
2025
Faculty, Zimmer Biomet Shoulder Course, India. International faculty for shoulder surgery teaching.
2025
Invited Speaker, IASCON (Indian Arthroscopy Society Annual Conference). Lecture on shoulder surgery.
2025
Faculty, Biotek Shoulder Education Event, India.
2018
Invited International Guest Speaker, Chinese Society of Sports Medicine Annual Conference. One of two international faculty members lecturing to over 1,000 attendees.
2009 to 2010
Faculty Member, Mitek Shoulder Institute, Annecy. Instructor at Dr Laurent Lafosse's advanced shoulder arthroscopy workshops.
A complete list of teaching engagements is available on request.
Hospital appointments
Where Dr Piper consults and operates
Lakeview Private Hospital, Norwest
Consultations and private surgery. Suite 1, Level 1, 17 to 19 Solent Circuit, Norwest NSW 2153.
Mater Hospital, North Sydney
Accredited at the Mater Hospital, part of the St Vincent's Health Australia group. Cases at the Mater are arranged on request, particularly for patients on the lower north shore who prefer the Mater to Lakeview.
Westmead Hospital
Public patients and trauma operating. Visiting Medical Officer since 2015.
Academic and other appointments
Beyond clinical practice
Member, Board of Directors, Lakeview Private Hospital
2020 to present.
Head of Orthopaedic Department, Lakeview Private Hospital
2015 to 2023.
Clinical Lecturer, Macquarie University
2010 to present. Teaching and supervising international fellows in the Master of Advanced Surgery program at the Australian School of Advanced Medicine.
Active Medical Specialist Reservist, Royal Australian Navy
2005 to present. Training of Navy medics in emergency orthopaedic care and trauma.
Convener, Sydney Shoulder & Elbow Meeting
2010 to 2024. Quarterly forum for shoulder and elbow surgeons, fellows, orthopaedic trainees, and musculoskeletal radiologists to discuss complex cases.
Published research
Peer-reviewed research and book chapters
Minimally Invasive Shoulder Arthroplasty
Lafosse L, Piper KJ. Book chapter in Master Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery: The Shoulder, 3rd Edition, edited by E Craig.
What Is the Most Reliable Method of Measuring Glenoid Bone Loss in Anterior Glenohumeral Instability?
Arenas-Miquelez A, Dabirrahmani D, Sharma G, Graham P, Appleyard R, Bokor D, Read J, Piper K, Raniga S. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021 Nov;49(13):3628 to 3637.
Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Proximal Humeral Fractures in the Elderly (ReShAPE trial): Study Protocol for a Multicentre Combined Randomised Controlled and Observational Trial
Smith GCS, Bateman E, Cass B, Damiani M, Harper W, Jones H, Lieu D, Piper K, et al. Trials. 2017 Feb;18(1):91.
Challenges During Implementation of a Patient-Facing Mobile App for Surgical Rehabilitation: Feasibility Study
Lau AYS, Piper K, Bokor D, Martin P, Lau VSL, Coiera E. JMIR Human Factors. 2017 Dec;4(4):e31.
Arthroscopic Posterior Bone Block Augmentation in Posterior Shoulder Instability
Schwartz DG, Goebel S, Piper K, Kordasiewicz B, Boyle S, Lafosse L. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2013 Aug;22(8):1092 to 1101.
Arthroscopic Suprascapular Nerve Release: Indications and Technique
Lafosse L, Piper KJ, Lanz U. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2011 Mar;20(2 Suppl):S9 to S13.
Missed Posterior Deep, Inferior Subcompartment Syndrome in a Patient with an Ankle Fracture: A Case Report
Piper KJ, Yen-yi JC, Horsley M. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2010 Jul to Aug;49(4):398.e5 to 398.e8.
Correcting Rotational Deformity Following Femoral Nailing
Piper KJ, Chia M, Graham E. Injury. 2009 Mar;40(6):660 to 662.
Hybrid External Fixation in Complex Tibial Plateau and Plafond Fractures: An Australian Audit of Outcomes
Piper KJ, Won HY, Ellis AM. Injury. 2005 Jan;36(1):178 to 184.
A full publications list is maintained on Google Scholar.
Book an appointment
Consultations at Lakeview Private Hospital, Norwest
Reception is reachable on 1800 746 853 or 02 9113 0606. Email reception@kaliper.com.au.