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DR STEVE NICOL
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Steve Nicol
MBChB, FRCS (T&O), FRACS (Ortho)
orthopaedic surgeon | Foot and Ankle Surgery
Dr Steve Nicol is a highly experienced orthopaedic surgeon specialising in foot and ankle surgery, hip and knee replacement and orthopaedic trauma.
Areas of Expertise
- Ankle fracture fixation, specialising in rapid return to weightbearing after surgery
- Ankle arthritis, with early weightbearing and accelerated rehabilitation after arthrodesis (fusion)
- Ankle arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)
- Soft tissue ankle injuries and ligament reconstruction
- Complex foot and ankle trauma including fractures to the tibial plafond, talus (ankle bone), calcaneus (heelbone) and Lisfranc (midfoot) fractures
- Minimally invasive surgery for calcaneal fractures
- Surgery for arthritis and deformity at the big toe and lesser toes, with a special interest in minimally invasive bunion surgery
- Posterior approach hip replacement
- Revision hip replacement
- Computer-navigated knee replacement and knee replacement with patient-specific implants
- Revision knee replacement
- Surgery for fractures of the lower and upper limb, focusing on soft tissue sparing approaches and innovative implants, avoiding casting and allowing immediate or early weightbearing, with rapid rehabilitation and return to function
- Limb deformity correction and lengthening, with circular frames or lengthening nails
- Fracture nonunion and malunion surgery
- Management of bone infection
- Ilizarov and spatial frame surgery
Personal Overview
Originally from Scotland, Dr Nicol studied at the prestigious University of Edinburgh Medical School, completing his surgical training in London and Bristol.
Before relocating to Australia, Dr Nicol was lead consultant for orthopaedic trauma at a UK Major Trauma Centre.
Looking for new challenges, he emigrated to North Queensland with his family in 2016, working as Staff Specialist and then Director of Orthopaedics at the Townsville University Hospital.
He settled with his family on the Sunshine Coast in 2023, where he works as a Senior Staff Specialist at the University Hospital and within the Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group.
Dr Nicol has published extensively and enjoys teaching, with 15 years’ experience as faculty on national and international trauma meetings.
Publications
Modern’ distal femoral locking plates allow safe, early weight-bearing with a high rate of union and low rate of failure. Five-year experience from a United Kingdom Major Trauma Centre
Poole W, Wilson D, Guthrie H, Bellringer S, Freeman R, Guryel E, Nicol S
Bone Joint J. 2017;99-B:951–7
Delay to surgery does not affect survival following osteoporotic femoral fractures
Brogan K, Akehurst H, Bond E, Gee C, Poole W, Shah N, McChesney S, Nicol S
Injury. 2016;47(10):2294-2299
Recent advances in external fixation
Nicol S, Jackson M, Monsell F
Bone and Joint 360. 2015;4(4):2-7. DOI: 10.1302/2048-0105.42.360352
The programmable hexapod. Historical perspective, theoretical basis and relevance to orthopaedic practice
McBride A, Nicol S, Monsell F
Bone & Joint 360. 2015; 4(4): 8-11. DOI: 10.1302/2048-0105.44.360367
Flexor digitorum profundus entrapment in paediatric forearm fractures.
Brogan K, Nicol S
J Surg Case Rep. 2014 May 15;2014(5). pii: rju038. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rju038.
Fine-tuning of blocking screws in long bone nailing
Guthrie HC, Bellringer SF, Nicol S
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2015; 97(3): 240-241
The results of total hip arthroplasty for fractured neck of femur in octogenarians.
Kieffer WK, Dawe EJ, Lindisfarne EA, Rogers BA, Nicol S, Stott PM.
J Arthroplasty. 2014; 29(3): 601-4. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2013.07.017. Epub 2013 Aug 17
Flexor digitorum profundus entrapment in paediatric forearm fractures.
Brogan K, Nicol S
J Surg Case Rep. 2014 May 15;2014(5). pii: rju038. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rju038.
Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh 10 days following an elective primary total hip replacement.
Elsorafy KR, Jm Stone A, Nicol SG.
Ortop Traumatol Rehabil 2013; 15(3): 269-71.
Does using a modular variable offset hemiarthroplasty reduce length of stay after hip fracture? Early experience with the Exeter Unipolar hemiarthroplasty.
Dawe EJ, Lindisfarne EA, Nicol SG, White SM, Stott PM.
Eur Orthop Traumatol 2013; doi:10.1007/s 12570-013-0200-8
Informed consent in trauma: Does written information improve patient recall of risks? A prospective randomised study.
Smith HK, Manjaly JG, Yousri T, Upadhyay N, Taylor H, Nicol SG, Livingstone JA.
Injury 2012; 43(9): 1534-8
Surgery for Back Pain
Nicol SG
In The Oxford Handbook of Pain Management. Brook P, Connell J, Pickering T, Eds.
OUP, Oxford, 2011
Should unstable extra-articular distal radial fractures be treated with fixed-angle volar-locked plates or percutaneous Kirschner wires? A prospective randomised controlled trial
McFadyen I, Field J, McCann P, Ward J, Nicol S, Curwen C.
Injury 2011; 42(2): 162-6.
Arthritis Progression after Patellofemoral Joint Replacement
Nicol SG, Loveridge JM, Weale AE, Ackroyd CE, Newman JH.
Knee 2006; 13(4): 290-5.
Early results of a New Cemented Polished Stem in Total Hip Arthroplasty in a District General Hospital.
Nicol SG, Pattenden L, Kulangara JR, Spencer RF.
Hip International 2006; 16(2): 139 (abstract)
Surgical management of inguinal hernia: retrospective cohort study in southeastern Scotland, 1985-2001
Atkinson HD, Nicol SG, Purkayastha S, Paterson-Brown S.
BMJ 2004; 329(7478): 1315-6.
Prelimary Results of Acetabular Impaction Bone Grafting in Total Hip Replacement with Particular Reference to the use of a Preformed Metallic Mesh
Nicol SG, George MD, Pearse MF.
JBJS 85-B 2003 Supplement II p.159 (abstract)
MEET THE OTHER DOCTORS
At Sunshine Coast Orthopaedic Group, we are proud to have a team of highly skilled orthopaedic surgeons,
each specialising in different areas of musculoskeletal care.
Find Us Across the Sunshine Coast
We have multiple locations across the Sunshine Coast, making it easy for patients to access the orthopaedic care they need. Our convenient locations are designed to ensure that you can receive top-quality treatment without long travel times.
Birtinya
Noosa
Maroochydore
(Coming 2026)
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Book an Appointment with Dr Steve Nicol Today
Whether you’re looking to book an appointment, inquire about a procedure, or need assistance with insurance, we’re just a call away. Don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re dedicated to providing the care and support you need.