OUR TEAM
TEAMWORK IS KEY
If you’re contemplating a hip or knee operation, consider this: The Cape Hip and Knee surgical team has a combined 68 years of expertise, having completed more than 10,257 joint replacements, and published 152 academic papers.
Professor Garth Grobler, Dr Brendan Dower, and Dr Marc Nortje’s reputation as leading orthopaedic surgeons in Cape Town has been achieved through a collaborative and innovative approach to joint surgery. Based in Pinelands, Cape Town, the team specialises in complex and revision surgeries and utilises the dedicated orthopaedic theatre at Life Orthopaedic Hospital.
We understand that the decision to have a hip replacement or knee replacement surgery is not taken lightly, which is why our priority is to help you make the right choice to restore your mobility and quality of life.
OUR SPECIALITIES
A surgical operation aiming to replace a damaged or diseased hip joint. The most common form of damage seen is Arthritis.
A surgical operation designed to replace your damaged knee joint. The knee is replaced by an artificial joint, which is a replica of your own.
A complex surgical operation performed in individuals who have already undergone knee or hip replacement surgery and have experienced complications and/or failure of the surgery. Part of, or all replacements need to be revised. Read more by clicking on the links below.
Hip Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat problems in the hip joint. Your surgeon will make very small incisions in your hip, inserting a camera called an arthroscope into one incision and small instruments into the others.
Knee Arthroscopy
Prof Garth Grobler
Professor Garth Grobler is 71 years old and married with two children. A lifelong endurance athlete and passionate cyclist, he has completed an extraordinary 32 consecutive Cape Town Cycle Tours and recently fulfilled a bucket‑list ambition by completing the ABSA Cape Epic.
Professor Grobler brings more than three decades of exclusive hip and knee replacement experience to the team and has personally performed over 6,000 joint replacements. He previously served as Head of Arthroplasty at both Princess Alice Orthopaedic Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, and continues to play an active role in teaching, mentorship, and research.
Garth’s depth of experience, thoughtful approach, and unwavering enthusiasm for orthopaedics make him a trusted authority for challenging and complex reconstructive problems, and an invaluable senior figure within the group.
Dr Brendan Dower
Brendan has a special interest in helping younger, active patients return to high‑impact sport, and is particularly experienced in complex hip and knee revision surgery, often working within a collaborative surgical team on these demanding cases.
He was instrumental in establishing and developing the hip arthroscopy service, having performed more than 500 procedures, and now continues to contribute his expertise while the service is led by Professor Nortje.
Dr Marc Nortje
Marc is Head of Arthroplasty at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, having succeeded Professor Garth Grobler in this role. As part of this unique partnership, he provides a strong academic link to the tertiary hospital and has ensured that Cape Hip & Knee remains closely involved in orthopaedic research and training.
He is a specialist hip and knee reconstruction surgeon, performing the full spectrum of complex primary and revision procedures at Groote Schuur Hospital. Professor Nortje is also fully trained in hip arthroscopy, with over 17 years of experience, and has since taken over leadership of the hip arthroscopy service, continuing to develop care for active patients seeking to return to sport.
In February 2018, 19 months into my English Channel swim training, the pain resulting from the deterioration of my hip prevented me from going any further. I consulted Dr Grobler and he managed to schedule me in last minute for a hip replacement in early March. Only 3 weeks after a successful op (with minimal scarring!) I was back in the water training and completed the swim in August as planned – at the age of 62! A huge thanks to you as I couldn’t have done it without you!
After 40 years of surfing, I have never fallen off my board while on take-off however, this happened on a surf trip to Bali. Having repeated falls, coupled with stiffness in my hip, I realised something was wrong. I met with Dr Dower and after taking one look at my x-ray, he pointed out that I needed a hip replacement. After 3 months I was back to playing tennis, and I started surfing the month after. Now more than a year after the op, I have been on a tropical surf trip and an off-site skiing trip and have had no problems with my hip. Thank you, Dr Dower, for getting me back into action so quickly!
When I had hip replacement surgery eight years ago, I feared it would mean the end of competitive tennis for me. However, after I had my hip replacement surgery, done by Dr Grobler at Cape Hip and Knee, I continued to play on the International Tennis Federation Seniors circuit and was even faster and better than before! My ranking in both singles and doubles improved significantly as a result. In 2019 I had to have the ‘other’ hip replaced and with such a fast recovery I still continue to play and compete. Thank you so much for giving me my mobility back, not just for tennis, but for all the things that I can now do.
Only 7 months after my hip replacement at Cape Hip and Knee, I successfully completed the Tour de Africa from Cairo to Cape Town. My new hip has also taken me across Australia and I continue to enjoy many new cycling adventures. None of this would’ve been possible if it wasn’t for Cape Hip and Knee!