M.B.B.S., F.R.A.C.S.

Special Interests

Paediatric Hand Surgery, Cerebral Palsy in the Upper Limb, Salivary Control Surgery, Reconstructive Microvascular Surgery,  Brachial Plexus Surgery, Peripheral Nerve Surgery

Education

Certification

Academic Appointments

Hospital Appointments

Societies

Research projects

Current Projects

1. Subcutaneous alloplastic breast reconstruction with Katrina Read
2. Satisfaction with Appearance in Children with Index Pollicizations for Thumb Hypoplasia Brinkley K Sandvall,Sara E Atkins, Bruce R Johnstone, Anthony J Penington, David B McCombe, Christopher J Coombs

Publications

Journal articles

1. 1. Johnstone, B.R., Harding, D.L., Hocking, B. Telephone Related Lightening Injuries. Medical Journal of Australia 144: 706-709, June 1986
   2. Johnstone, B.R., Syme, R.R.A. Myonecrosis Complicating Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid Treatment of Traumatic Haematuria. British Journal of Urology. 60: 81-82, June 1987
   3. Johnstone, B.R., Waxman, B.P. Transverse Disruption of the Abdominal Wall- A Tell-Tale Sign of Seat Belt Related Hollow Viscus Injury. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 57; 455-460, July 1987
   4. Johnstone, B.R., Buntine, J.A., Sormann, G.W., Slattery, P.G., Jordon, C.J., Phillip, K.M. Surgical Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb in Quadriplegia. Australian and New Zealand Journal Of Surgery. 57: 917-926, December 1987
   5. Johnstone, B.R., Buntine, J.A. Contributions of Plastic Surgery to the Care of the Spinal Cord Injured Patient. Paraplegia 26: 87-93, April 1988
   6. Johnstone, B.R., Buntine, J.A., Jordan, C.J. A Review of Surgical Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb in Quadriplegia. Paraplegia 26: 317-339, October 1988
   7. Johnstone B.R., Bennett, C.S. Lawn Mower Injuries in Childhood. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 59: 713-718, September 1989
   8. Johnstone, B.R. Breast Tumourectomy and Irradiation - Review and Commentary. Plastic Surgery Outlook. 4: 4-5, March 1990
   9. Breidahl, A.F. and Johnstone, B.R. Innervated Posterior Thigh Flap for Defects of the Sole - A Case Report. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 95:747-749, April 1995
   10. Penington, A., Johnstone, B.R. A Case of Local Tissue Necrosis Following a Bite by Australian Tiger Snake Notechis Scutatus. Australian and New Zealand Journal Of Surgery. 67:385-388, June 1997
   11. Shand, J.M., Breidahl, A.F., Hing, N.R., Johnstone, B.R., Weisenfeld, D. Ascending necrotising fasciitis as a result of odontogenic infection: a report of two cases. Australian Dental Journal. 46: (2): 134-138, 2001
   12. Johnstone, B.R. Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Surface Replacement Arthroplasty. Hand Surgery. 6:1-11, 2001
   13. Bartlett, G.R., Coombs, C.J., Johnstone, B.R. Primary Shortening of the Pollicized Long Flexor Tendon in Congenital Pollicisation. Journal Of Hand Surgery (American). 26A:595-598, 2001
   14. Johnstone, B.R., Peters, J. Carpal Tunnel Release. Current Therapeutics. July 2001 p 80.
   15. Johnstone, B.R., Richardson, P.W.F., Coombs, C.J. Duncan, J.A. Functional and Cosmetic Outcome of Surgery for Cerebral Palsy in the Upper Limb. Hand Clin 19 (2003) 679 - 686
   16. Richardson, P.W.F., Coombs, C.J., Johnstone, B.R. Toe -to-hand transfer in Symbrachdactyly. Hand Surgery 9(2004) 11-18
   17. Dieu, T., Johnstone,B.R., Newgreen,D.F. Genes and Nerves. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery 21(3) 179-186 April 2005.
   18. Greensmith, A.L., Johnstone, B.R., Reddihough, D., Johnson, H., Fergusson, E., Desai, M., Hazard, C., Reid, S. Prospective analysis of the outcome of surgical management of drooling in the paediatric population: a 10 year experience. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery116:1233-1242, 2005
   19. Chin, T.Y.P., Duncan, J.A., Johnstone, B.R. and H.K. Graham Management of the Upper Limb in Cerebral Palsy. Current Concepts Review. Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedics B 14:389-404,2005
   20. Coombs, C.J., Richardson, P.W.F., Johnstone, B.R. and S.C. Tan The U-Ligament for Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Duplicated Thumb. Hand Surgery 10: 237-241, 2005
   21. Coombs, C.J., Richardson, P.W.F., Dowling, G.J., Johnstone, B.R., Monagle, P. Brachial Artery Thrombosis in Infants: An Algorithm for Limb Salvage Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery117:1481-1488, 2006
   22. Dowling, G.J., Johnstone, B.R Coombs, C.J. Nerve Stimulation Made Easy: A Simple, Effective and Inexpensive Alternative to Standard Devices. Journal Of Hand Surgery (American).32A:1296-1298,2007
   23. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Children With Mucopolysaccaridoses Alex Yuen Guy Dowling Bruce Johnstone Andrew Kornberg Christopher Coombs Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 22, No. 3, 260-263 (2007)
   24. S M Reid B R Johnstone C Westbury B Rawicki D S Reddihough A randomised trial of botulinum toxin injections into the submandibular and parotid glands to reduce drooling in children with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 50:123 - 128, 2008
   25. Nguyen A., Raymond S.,Morgan V., Peters J., Macgill K.A. Johnstone, B.R Lawn Mower Injuries In Children - A 30 Year Experience ANZJS Vol 78, Issue 9, P 759 - 763 Sept 2008
   26. Johnstone B.R., Fitzgerald M., Smith K.R, Currie, L.J. Cemented Versus Un-Cemented Surface Replacement Arthroplasty of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint with a Mean of Five Year Follow Up. J Hand Surg 2008;33A:726-732.
   27. Ritz N, Connell TG, Tebruegge M, Johnstone BR, Curtis N. Tuberculous dactylitis--an easily missed diagnosis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011 Nov;30(11):1303-10. 
   28. Stewart DA, Taylor K, Johnstone BR, Coombs CJ. Structural fat grafting to improve aesthetic outcomes in congenital hand surgery Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2012 Aug 130(2): 386e-387e
   29. Toma, R. Ferris, S. Coombs, C. J. Johnstone, B. R. McCombe, D. B. Lipoblastoma: An important differential diagnosis of tumours of the hand in children. J Plast Surg Hand Surg. 44(4-5):257-9, 2010 Nov
   30. Johnstone B., Read K, Dick W. Poly Implant Prothèse silicone breast implant rupture,gel bleed and fatigue in a ‘blinded’ patient. ANZJS 83(3):192-3 2013 Mar
   31.  Seruya M, Shen SH, Fuzzard S, Coombs CJ, McCombe DB and Johnstone BR. Spinal accessory nerve transfer outperforms cervical root grafting for suprascapular nerve reconstruction in neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 2015 May 135(5): 1431-1438
   32.  The “Trigger” Thumb Locked in Extension – An Unusual Presentation of a Common Paediatric Condition Bruce R. Johnstone, L. J. Currie, Edmund W. Ek, Daniel J. Wilks, David B. McCombe, Christopher J. Coombs. Journal of Hand Surgery (Asia-Pacific) Vol. 21, No. 02, 234-238 (2016)
   33.  The acutely blue finger: cause for concern? Marc A Seifman and Bruce R Johnstone. Journal of Hand Surgery (Asia-Pacific) Accepted 28/3/17 to published June 2018 (Volume 23, No. 2)
   34.  High-pressure injection injury: benign appearance belies potentially devastating consequences. Anna Ryan and Bruce Johnstone. Medical Journal of Australia. 2017;206(11):477
   35.  Surgical Management of the Hand Manifestations of Harlequin Ichthyoses - A Case Report Joseph Overland and Bruce Johnstone ANZJS 89 7/8 (2019) E325-326
   36.  Long-term impact of saliva control surgery in children with disability. Susan M Reid, Christine Westbury, David Chong , Bruce R Johnstone, Angela Guzys , Dinah S Reddihough. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery (2019) 72, 1193–1197    
   37.  Characteristics and assessment of children undergoing upper limb surgery for management of cerebral palsy. Sabella, Danielle; Scheinberg, Adam; Johnstone , Bruce; McCombe, David; Hasnat, Monika. Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery 2021;4(1):35–47
   38.  Radial Tunnel Syndrome: Case report and review of a compression neuropathy surrounded by controversy G.Gleda Ang, David Bolzonello, Bruce R Johnstone Hand July 2021 https://doi.org/10.1177%2F15589447211029045
    

Submitted publications

1. Layt, C.W., Coombs, C.J., Johnstone, B.R. Currie, L.J Extended Trigger Digit - An unusual presentation in children. Journal Of Hand Surgery (American) Submitted 12/1/2002, to be resubmitted 2007 with additional cases awaiting further revision.

In preparation

1. Johnstone, B.R., Joyce Alley, Tamara Bonney. Tongue tie and Z-plasty -a prospective study of intra-operative tongue length measurement before and after release and Z-plasty with clinical outcome study.
2. Johnstone, B.R., Joyce Alley, Tamara Bonney.Normal tongue length in children
3. Johnstone, B.R., Duncan, J.A , Bade, S.A. The use of botulinum toxin with splinting in the management of contractures in the upper limb in cerebral palsy.
4. Johnstone, B.R., McCombe , Bade, S.A The use of botulinum toxin in the management of obsetric brachial plexus palsy.

Book Chapters

1. Johnstone, B.R., Duncan, J.A. Hand Injuries in Children, Chapter 21. Atlas of Hand Surgery Publisher: Churchill Livingstone. Edited by W. Bruce Connolly. Published 1997
2. Johnstone, B.R., Flood, S. Reconstruction of the Sternum, Chapter 16. "Ischaemic Heart Disease: Surgical Management". Edited by B. Buxton, B. Frazier, and S. Westerby. Published 1998
3. Johnstone, B.R., Breidahl, A.F. Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, Chapter 15. The Hand, Chapter 46. Vascular and Pigmented Naevi, Chapter 50. Soft Tissue Lumps, Chapter 51. Jones' Clinical Paediatric Surgery: Diagnosis and Management. Edited by J.M. Hutson, A.A. Woodward and S.W. Beasley. Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd 1999
4. Johnstone, B.R. Chapter: Surgery for Drooling, A Practical Approach to Saliva Control 2nd Edition. Communication Skill Builders Tucson Arizona. Editors. H. Johnson and A. Scott. Submitted 24/2/2002, due for publication 2004.

Book reviews

1. The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Surgery 2000; 71:625. Author: Christopher Stone. Title: Plastic Surgery: Facts. Publisher: Greenwich Medical Media Ltd (First published 2001)
2. The Medical Journal of Australia April 2002 P349. Author: Nadine Semer. Title: Practical Plastic Surgery for Nonsurgeons. Publisher: Hanley and Belfus (First published 2001)

Other

1. Understanding Brachial Plexus Palsy. An illustrated educational booklet for parents and other health professionals. Contributors: Jane Bartlett, Kirsty Kurilowicz, Josie Duncan and Bill Reid (Medical illustrator) Launched by Rev. Tim Costello 20/11/2003
2. Saliva Control in Children. An illustrated educational booklet for parents and other health professionals. Contributors: Dinah Reddihough, Hilary Johnson, Mala Desai, Elizabeth Fergusson, Bill Reid
3. Consensus recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and control of mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Bairnsdale or Buruli ulcer) in Victoria, Australia. Paul Johnson, John Hayman, et al. Member of consensus conference team Melbourne. Medical Journal of Australia 186:64-68, January 2007

Papers presented

1. Surgical Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb in Quadriplegia at the Austin Hospital. Royal Australian College of Surgeons General Scientific Meeting, Perth, May 1987.
2. Lawn Mower Injuries Treated at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Royal Australasian College of Surgeons General Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, May 1989.
3. Complications of Treatment of Breast Carcinoma by Lumpectomy and Irradiation. American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 59th Annual Scientific Meeting, Boston, October 1990.
4. University of Utah Advanced Microsurgery Workshop, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 1991.
a) Extending free flap pedicles with vein grafts.
b) No veins: The use of leeches and intra replant heparin.
c) Scapular fascial free flap.
d) Free flap breast reconstruction.
e) Free flaps for diabetic foot ulceration.
5. Paediatric Second Toe to Hand Transfer. Video presentation prepared with G. Lister. American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, Florida, September 1991.
6. Upper Limb Surgery in Cerebral Palsy. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Perth May 1995.
7. AHSS Annual Scientific Meeting Port Stephens, September 1995
a) Upper Limb Surgery in Cerebral Palsy
b) Reversed Dermal Graft Nailbed Reconstruction
8. RACS Plastic Surgery Registrar's Training Course, Melbourne, February 1996
a) Pollicisation
b) Rheumatoid Hand
c) Sternal Wound Infections
9. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, May 1996
a) Rural Surgery: Hand Injuries: What and When to Refer
b) Case: Extensive Head, Neck and Chest BCC
10. Reversed Dermal Graft Nailbed Reconstruction Update. AHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, Cairns, September 1996.
11. Surgical Care of the Hand in Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. Asia-Pacific Federation of Societies of Surgery of the Hand, Perth, March 1997.
12. AHSS Registrar Training Course, Melbourne, March 1998
a) Hand Injuries in Children
b) Congenital Thumb Anomalies and Radial Club Hand
13. Percutaneous Release of the MPJ Collateral Ligaments and Dorsal Capsule. AHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, Tasmania, March 1998
14. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Sydney, May 1998
a) Percutaneous Collateral Ligament and Dorsal Capsule Release of the MP Joint. Presented by Marie Rostek
b) Pectoralis Major Flap and the Treatment of Infected Median Sternotomy Wounds. Presented by Nicholas Houseman
15. Spastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Upper limb and drooling in C.P. Jurkiewicz Society Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, June 1999.
16. AHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, Portsea, April 2000
a) PIPJ Surface Replacement Arthroplasty
b) Two Simple Dynamic Extensor Splints
c) Tendon Suture to Bone
d) Percutaneous Osteotomy in Kirner's Deformity
17. Modifications of the Lejour Vertical Mammaplasty. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, May 2000.
18. Lejour Vertical Mammaplasty. Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Sanctuary Cove, Qld, July 2000.
19. PIP Joint Surface Replacement Arthroplasty. Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Chennai, India, August, 2000.
20. Paediatric Hand Trauma. Australian Hand Therapy Association National Conference, Melbourne, October 2000.
21. Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Surface Replacement Arthroplasty. International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2001.
22. AHSS Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, March 2002
a) Primary Shortening Of The Flexor Tendon In Pollicisation.-Mini Paper
b) Avanta Pip Joint Arthroplasty
c) The Extended Trigger Digit In Children-Mini Paper
d) Outcomes Of Surgery For The Upper Limb In Cerebral Palsy
23. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Adelaide, May 2002
a) Dealing with Deformity- Aesthetic Issues
b) Avanta Pip Joint Arthroplasty
c) Surgery for Drooling
d) Outcomes of Surgery for the Upper Limb in Cerebral Palsy
24. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Brisbane, May 2003
a) Video Assessment Of Upper Limb Cerebral Palsy
b) Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy For Beginners
c) Radial Nerve Palsy Tendon Transfers - What Works - Meet The Experts
d) Flexor Tendon Repair - Kessler
e) PIPJ replacement - Dorsal Approach
25. 13th International Congress of IPRAS, Sydney, August 2003
a) Sternal Dehiscence and Wound Infection (+Session Chairman)
b) Avanta Pip Joint Arthroplasty
c) Surgery for Drooling
26. Victorian Hand Surgery Society Annual Scientific Meeting, November 2003. That Sinking Feeling - Preliminary Report on Intermediate Follow-up on Uncemented Avanta PIP Joint Arthroplasty.
27. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Melbourne, May 2003. That Sinking Feeling -Intermediate Follow-up on Uncemented Avanta PIP Joint Arthroplasty.
28. American Association for Hand Surgery/Reconstructive Microsurgery Meeting Puerto Rico January 2005
a) Avanta PIPJ arthroplasty
b) Upper Limb Cerebral Palsy Surgery
29. AHSS/NZHSS Queenstown March 2005
Avanta PIPJ Arthroplasty 30 mins as part of arthroplasty seminar
30. AHSS Adelaide March 2006
Minimal margin excision for Mycobacteriun Ulcerans
31. APFSSH Bangkok November 2006
PIPJ Surface Replacement Arthroplasty
Botulinum Toxin A in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy
32. World Congenital 2007 Sydney March 2007
Extended Trigger Digits
33. IFSSH 2007 Sydney March 2007
PIPJ Surface Replacement Arthroplasty
Botulinum Toxin A in Uppper Limb Cerebral Palsy
International Federation of societies for surgery of the hand
34. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Christchurch May 2007
Botulinum Toxin A in Uppper Limb Cerebral Palsy
Botulinum Toxin A in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy35.Combined ASSH and AHSS meeting Hawaii 22-25 March 2011

35. Combined ASSH and AHSS meeting Hawaii 22-25 March 2011

a)    Nerve Root Histology in OBPP

b)    Instructional Course Lecture: Cerebral Palsy Management

c)    Participation in Symposium: PIP Joint Injuries with David C. Ring, MD, PhD, Anthony C. Berger, FRACS, Rebecca J. Saunders, BS, PT, CHT, Kenny E. Hanna, MD

d)    Participation in Symposium :Arthroplasty of the MCP and IP Joints with Mark Ross, FRACS, Joseph Imbriglia, MD PIPJ Sbi Arthroplasty

36. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Kuala Lumpur 6-10 May 2012

a)    Nerve Root Histology in OBPP

b)    Tuberculous Dactylitis in Children (Poster)

37. Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Brisbane 2-6 May 2016 Remotion Total Wrist Arthroplasty: One surgeon’s Experience (Presented by Gleda Ang)

38. Subcutaneous Breast Reconstruction Poster with Katrina Read Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Bangkok 8 May 2019

39. Subcutaneous Prepectoral Prosthetic Breast Reconstructions. A personal 6 year series. Plastic Surgery Congress Melbourne 30 May 2019

40. Paediatric Femoral nerve reconstruction. (Presented by Tegan Fink) Royal Australian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress, Bangkok 8 May 2019

41. 25 Years of Upper Limb CP Surgery Asia Pacific Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Melbourne 12 March 2020

42. Botox in CP Upper Limb Asia Pacific Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Melbourne 12 March 2020

43. Botox in CP Upper Limb Asia Pacific Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand, Melbourne 12 March 2020