About
Orthopaedic Surgeon and CEO at Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology | Innovator | Educator | Speaker | Researcher
Specialty and Core Competencies
Dr Franz Birkholtz is a South African orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in limb reconstruction and lengthening surgery. He is experienced in managing deformities, bone defects, bone infection and non-unions. In addition, he is proficient in orthopaedic trauma management and have many years of experience in managing orthopaedic trauma cases of varying complexity.
Team Approach
He prefers using a multi-disciplinary team approach and develop standardised care pathways to improve patient outcomes in his field. He is well known for my work using special techniques and technologies like the Ilizarov Method, hexapod circular external fixation, lengthening nails and distraction histogenesis. Complex foot and ankle reconstruction and deformity correction overlap with his external fixation experience and his practice has become a referral centre for external fixation based foot and ankle salvage and reconstruction procedures.
Franz is a fourth generation doctor in his family and qualified as such from the University of Pretoria in 1997. He embarked on his orthopaedic journey in 2000 and qualified as an orthopaedic surgeon by obtaining the MMed in Orthopaedics from the University of Pretoria in 2006. In addition, he obtained the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Fellowship Exam in 2006 and was awarded the Edelstein Medal for the best College Exam Candidate in 2006.
He started his private practice shortly afterwards and continue to run a busy private practice whilst also holding an External Lecturer post at the Division of Orthopaedics at Stellenbosch University and heading up the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology as CEO.
He is actively involved in research and have authored a number of scientific papers and book chapters. He travels regularly to teach and is a sought after speaker and educator and constantly uses his love for innovation and research to try and improve his patients’ lives.
