Rate My Professor Nikki Hooper

Dr. Nikki Hooper is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, within the Faculty of Medicine of the Health Sciences Division. She holds the qualifications BHB, MBChB, and FRACS in orthopaedics, reflecting her training as a New Zealand orthopaedic surgeon. In her clinical practice, Dr. Hooper serves as an adult and paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the Canterbury District Health Board. Her professional interests include paediatric orthopaedics, adult foot and ankle surgery, hip and knee arthroplasty, and orthopaedic trauma. As part of her academic role, she contributes to the education of medical students and junior doctors in orthopaedics.

Dr. Hooper's research centres on improving outcomes in paediatric orthopaedics, particularly hip disorders. She is the Principal Investigator for the Global Hip Dysplasia Registry within the Paediatric Hip Registries, Canterbury (PHReC), and actively participates in the Hip Kids research team. This involvement supports international databases and multi-centre clinical trials, such as the Brace vs Observation Random Controlled Trial and the Global Pediatric Orthopaedic Implant Safety & Efficacy Study, to refine treatment protocols for developmental dysplasia of the hip and related conditions. Additional research interests encompass risk factors for growth arrest in paediatric physeal fractures, promoting diversity and cultural change within surgery, and advancing surgical education through simulation to enhance training while prioritizing safe and healthy work practices. Key publications include: Hooper, N. et al. (2024) 'Risk Factor Analysis for Growth Arrest in Paediatric Physeal Fractures—A Prospective Study', Journal of Clinical Medicine; Zomar, B.O. et al. (2024) 'Comparison of brace to observation in stable, radiological developmental dysplasia of the hip: a protocol for a global multicentre non-inferiority randomised trial', BMJ Open; Guo, J. et al. (2023) 'Transfer validity of pediatric supracondylar humeral fracture pin placement practice on in-theater performance by orthopedic trainees using an augmented reality simulator: protocol for a pilot interventional cohort study', JMIR Research Protocols; Hooper, N. et al. (2021) 'Developmental dysplasia of the hip: an examination of care practices of orthopaedic surgeons in India', Indian Journal of Orthopaedics; and Banting, N. et al. (2021) 'Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability in the radiographic diagnosis of growth arrest in paediatric physeal fractures', Indian Journal of Orthopaedics. Through these contributions, Dr. Hooper advances clinical research and orthopaedic training.