About A/Prof. Lukas Ernstbrunner

MD, PhD, FMH (Orth & Tr), FRACS (Orth), FAOrthA

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon | Associate Professor of Biomechanics

A/Prof Lukas Ernstbrunner is a fellowship-trained consultant orthopaedic surgeon with specialisation in upper limb surgery — including shoulder, elbow, and hand — and (robotic-assisted) joint replacement of the shoulder, hip and knee. He is an orthopaedic surgeon at Reconstructive Orthopaedics Melbourne (ROM), a centre committed to delivering excellence in orthopaedic care, advanced biomechanics research, and the training of future surgical leaders.

Lukas completed his medical degree with distinction at the Paracelsus Medical University in Austria. He obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Zurich in Switzerland followed by a PhD focussing on biomechanics through a collaborative program between the Paracelsus Medical University, the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He went on to undertake advanced orthopaedic training at the Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich, under the mentorship of globally respected orthopaedic surgeon Prof. Christian Gerber.

Following his Swiss board certification (FMH), Lukas moved to Australia to deepen his clinical and academic expertise. He completed multiple competitive fellowships in shoulder and elbow surgery, hand & microsurgery, hip and knee arthroplasty, and major trauma and limb reconstruction at leading public hospitals, such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and at the regarded Melbourne Orthopaedic Group. He holds the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and is a Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association (FAOrthA).

A/Prof Ernstbrunner currently practices at Eastern Health (Box Hill and Blackburn Hospitals) and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and consults privately at St. Vincent’s Private East Melbourne and Elgar Hill Medical Suites, Box Hill.

A/Prof Ernstbrunner is also an internationally recognised researcher and Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. His research — focused on joint biomechanics and implant design — has been published in over 110 peer-reviewed articles in leading orthopaedic journals and has been cited more than 2,700 times. His academic contributions have earned multiple international research awards and grants. He continues to present his results on national and international conferences.

At ROM, Lukas brings together his surgical skill-set, academic knowledge, and a commitment to evidence-based, patient-centred care. His practice is grounded in the values of clinical excellence, research-driven innovation, collaboration, and compassion — all of which guide his mission to improve outcomes for every patient.