A Sydney surgeon who was subjected to a "vicious" campaign of harassment by a former patient, including an offensive website and death threats, has been awarded $480,000 in damages for defamation, after a judge lauded him as the "perfect plaintiff".

Munjed Al Muderis, an Iraqi refugee and pioneering surgeon celebrated for giving amputees the ability to walk, considered leaving Australia after a former patient and his brother made a series of threats and put grossly defamatory posts about him online.

Surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis. Credit:Tim Bauer

This included a website styled similarly to Dr Al Muderis' official business site along with posts on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

The Supreme Court heard former patient Gerardo Mazzella and his brother Rodney Duncan waged an online campaign against Dr Al Muderis after he performed a hip operation on Mr Mazzella in 2010.