info@footandankleunit.co.za | +27 11 647 3735 | +27 11 485 1974 | +27 11 647 3435
ABOUT THE
ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT
AND ANKLE UNIT
Excellence in Foot and Ankle Surgery. Rooted in Experience. Guided by Innovation.
The Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Unit is a specialist practice based at Netcare Linksfield Medical Centre in Johannesburg. Our team is led by three highly qualified orthopaedic surgeons who are recognised both locally and internationally for their expertise in foot and ankle surgery, trauma care, academic research, and surgical training.
Together, we provide comprehensive care for a full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions – from sports injuries and arthritis to complex reconstructive procedures. We treat patients directly and via referral, always aiming to offer world-class care with a personalised approach.
We are also proud to play a key role in shaping the future of orthopaedic surgery through our ongoing fellowship programme, mentorship, and contributions to clinical research.
MEET THE SURGEONS
LEADERS IN THE FIELD. COMMITTED TO CARE.
Prof Nick Saragas
Honorary Adjunct Professor in foot and ankle surgery with over 70 scientific publications and three decades of experience.
Professor Nikiforos (Nick) Saragas is one of South Africa’s most respected orthopaedic surgeons, with a special interest in foot and ankle surgery. With more than 30 years in private practice, he also serves as Honorary Adjunct Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the former Head of the Foot and Ankle Unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
He has authored or co-authored over 70 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, delivered presentations around the world, and received several literary awards. Professor Saragas is a past president of the South African Foot Surgeons’ Association (2007), reviewer for several journals, and section editor of the South African Orthopaedic Journal.
Furthermore, he is the founder and director of a highly regarded Postgraduate Foot and Ankle Fellowship programme, sought after by both nationally and internationally qualified orthopaedic surgeons.
Professor Saragas obtained his PhD (Orthopaedic Surgery) from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019, and his thesis is entitled: A new lesser metatarsophalangeal joint replacement arthroplasty design-in vitro and cadaver studies.
Dr Paulo Ferrao
Internationally trained consultant and deputy director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Programme, with over 70 published works.
Dr Paulo Ferrao is an orthopaedic surgeon and the deputy director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship Programme at Linksfield. He is an honorary senior consultant in the University of the Witwatersrand’s orthopaedic department and is actively involved in training registrars and postgraduate fellows.
Dr Ferrao completed his medical degree at the University of Pretoria in 2000 and specialised in orthopaedic surgery at WITS university. He completed a prestigious foot and ankle fellowship under Dr M. Myerson at Mercy Medical Centre (Baltimore, USA) in 2010.
Additionally, he has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers in local and international journals and regularly presents at international conferences as an invited guest speaker. He is also an accredited reviewer for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (EFAS journal) and the South African Orthopaedic Journal.
Dr Ferrao is a past president of the South African Foot Surgeons Association (SAFSA), served on the Steps2Walk medical advisory board, and is a member of various foot and ankle societies around the world.
Outside of work, he enjoys outdoor activities, which include mountain biking, paddling, and kite surfing.
Dr Michael de Buys
Fellowship-trained surgeon offering comprehensive care rooted in both academic excellence and holistic wellness.
Dr de Buys is a foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon with a strong focus on foot and ankle surgery. He brings a unique background in both science and medicine, having completed an Honours degree in Medical Biochemistry at the University of Cape Town before pursuing his medical studies at the University of Witwatersrand.
Following the completion of his internship at the Pietermaritzburg Complex of Hospitals, and his community service at the Murchison Hospital on the South Coast, he developed a keen interest in Emergency Medicine. Shortly thereafter, he obtained a Diploma in Primary Emergency Care. Later, he earned his Fellowship and Master’s in Orthopaedic Surgery through The University of the Witswatersrand and went on to complete the Foot and Ankle Fellowship at Linksfield under the guidance of Professor Saragas and Dr Ferrao.
Dr de Buys remains actively involved in academic teaching as a sessional consultant at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Beyond his professional pursuits, he believes in living a balanced life and finds joy in road cycling, mountain biking, and just about any other outdoor activity.
OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME
The Postgraduate Foot and Ankle Fellowship was founded in 2010 and is a six-month training programme for qualified orthopaedic surgeons who wish to refine their expertise in foot and ankle surgery. Also, the programme is open to national and international candidates who fulfil the criteria. It is run in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand and Netcare Linksfield Hospital and has trained over 20 surgeons from both South Africa and abroad.
In addition to hands-on surgical training, the fellowship prioritises teaching and research. The fellowship is an independent entity, registered as a non-profit organisation, and relies purely on sponsorship. Significantly, it remains one of the few foot and ankle fellowships endorsed by the South African Orthopaedic Association and is led by Professor Nick Saragas and Dr Paulo Ferrao.
OUR APPROACH
“Our patients are not just cases. They are individuals with unique challenges. Our role is to restore function, reduce pain, and help them return to life.”
We believe that world-class orthopaedic care combines technical excellence with compassion and communication. Our approach is guided by three principles:
Clinical leadership
We bring decades of hands-on experience and academic insight into every consultation.
Research-driven care
Our treatment decisions are informed by the latest evidence and years of our own research.
Patient-centred planning
Every treatment plan is tailored to the individual’s condition, lifestyle, and goals
AFFILIATIONS AND RECOGNITION
We are proud to be affiliated with the following professional organisations and institutions:
- South African Orthopaedic Association
- South African Foot Surgeons' Association
- American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
- The Southern Federation of Foot and Ankle Societies
- University of the Witwatersrand
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Research is central to what we do, both in practice and in training. Our team has collectively authored over 125 publications in peer-reviewed journals and continues to contribute to international orthopaedic literature and congresses.
You can explore selected publications here: