Orthopaedics

The foot and ankle is an area of the body that is prone to problems and injuries. Virtually everyone faces a foot and ankle problem during their lifetime, either inherited or as a result of chronic abuse and neglect. These problems may range from fractures, strains and sprains to other conditions such as tendon issues, malformed bones and arthritis.

Our team of highly experienced foot and ankle surgeons, orthopaedic specialists and specialized physiotherapists, will provide you with comprehensive care.

With the valuable help of Athens Medical Group’s state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technology, we can provide a rapid diagnosis of your foot and ankle condition so that our orthopaedic specialists will recommend the treatment that best suits your personal needs and goals.

At Athens Medical Group we provide a full range of treatments for all foot and ankle conditions and injuries, including non-invasive or minimally procedures.

At Athens Medical Group, state-of-the-art equipment is used in order to implement the newest treatment methods for all foot and ankle lesions and injuries, including:

• Ankle Injuries
• Ankle Replacement
• Bunions
• Calluses
• Claw toes
• Corns
• Flatfoot
• Foot and Ankle Arthritis
• Foot and Ankle Fractures’ Malunion
• Foot and Ankle Fractures’ Nonunion
• Hammertoes
• Ingrown Toenails
• Mallet Toes
• Stiff big toe (Hallux Rigidus)
• Mycotic Nails
• Neuromas

Diabetic Foot Care

Athens Medical Group’s Diabetic Foot Clinic was developed to provide expert care to people suffering from the disease through a state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment. Our team of specialists, al leaders in the prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment of diabetic foot, consists of such vascular surgeons, infectious practitioners, experts in diabetes, interventional radiologists, orthopaedists, microsurgeons, pediatric endocrinologists, dermatologists, psychologists and nurses specializing in diabetic foot.

At Athens Medical Group we apply the latest techniques in the treatment of vascular diseases of the diabetic foot, such as angioplasty, the combination of laser therapy and angioplasty and intravascular angioplasty.

With these techniques, diabetic leg amputations have been reduced to more than 90%.

Percutaneous osteotomy

The technique of percutaneous osteotomy allows:

• Surgery to take place via one or more small holes
• The simultaneous correction of various foot deformities, such as hallux valgus, dropped metatarsal, hammer toe and claw toe.

Percutaneous osteotomies are performed without a strapping technique (tournique), with local anesthesia and usually without the use of metallic implants.

The purpose of percutaneous osteotomy is initially to remove swelling of the first metatarsal. Then, in most cases, osteostomy of the first metatarsal is performed with the aim of correcting the pathological angle of the articular surface of the first metatarsal.

Percutaneous osteotomy is usually complemented by a second osteotomy of the proximal phalanx of the great toe.

Throughout surgery, the surgeon checks the osteotomy and the corrections performed with special radiological equipment (Fluoroscopy).

The entire procedure lasts 15-20 minutes.

After the surgery, the patient walks without crutches or walking sticks, wearing a special shoe.

The absence of incisions and the absence of lesions in the soft molecules results in a truly painless technique.

Fifteen days after the surgery the patient may remove the bandage and use adhesive patches of the foot. After that, patients can wear normal – roomy-  shoes and return to their usual activities (driving, walking).

Patients replace the patches themselves on a daily basis for approximately a month, depending on the underlying pathology.

The method of percutaneous osteotomy is applied in the US for over fifteen years and its excellent results have led to its adoption in Europe, as well.

Objective of the meeting is to comprehensively cover all aspects of modern foot and ankle surgery (biomechanics, reconstructive surgery, artrhroscopy and sports injuries, trauma), aiming at an audience of orthopaedic surgeons in training and also specialists with an interest in foot and ankle surgery. Lectures will be delivered by experienced orthopaedic surgeons from the Balkan countries and beyond. The structure of the meeting has been divided to lectures according to anatomical regions – hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot – and thematic sessions. Free presentations from different regions will also give us an insight of local trends and experience in foot and ankle surgery.

Hand and wrist issues are very common and affect almost everyone at some point in their lives. Hand Surgery deals with the treatment of all conditions and injuries of the upper extremities. It is applied by our orthopaedics and plastic surgeons who have the necessary expertise and use all the techniques of Microsurgery.

If you are experiencing pain in your hand or wrist, it is important to find expert care.

At Athens Medical Group we offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for all hand and wrist conditions and injuries. Our highly trained surgeons and orthopaedic specialists are leaders in their area of expertise.

The Hand and Wrist conditions may be due to injuries or chronic diseases. Upper limb injuries account for more than 30% of total body injuries, reaching 60% or 70% of work-related injuries.

This is obvious, as the hand is the most exposed part of the body and therefore the most sensitive to injuries. They may be simple injuries (e.g. single fracture of a bone) or even more complex (simultaneous damage to bones, nerves, tendons, skin, etc.).

Hand surgeons are trained in the surgical treatment of all upper extremity injuries that may require fracture osteosynthesis, tendon and nerve transfers, and vascular anastomoses, while the more complex operations involve the replantation of amputated parts:

Injuries

• Fracture osteosynthesis
• Tendon and nerve damage repair, and vascular anastomosis
• Reattachment of amputated limbs

Direct treatment of these injuries guarantees the best possible result.

Chronic diseases involve syndromes due to over-use of the hands, systemic diseases, neoplasias and many others.

Hand surgeons also face chronic hand diseases such as:

Chronic Diseases

• Arthritis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (endoscopic release)
• Ulnar neuritis
• Trigger finger
• De Quervain syndrome
• Dupuytren condition
• Cysts and ganglia
• Congenital anomalies
• Hand tumors
• Brachial Plexus injuries

For the best surgical practice, knowledge of Microsurgery is essential. According to this, using surgical microscope and special fine tools, surgery is achieved.

Microsurgical technique is necessary in a number of operations, such as the replanting of amputated parts, the surgery of the brachial nexus and the peripheral nerves and the free transfer of tissues (transfer of a piece of skin or muscle from one point of the body to another.

Athens Medical Center’s Department of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Reconstructive Orthopaedic Microsurgery is an accredited Hand Trauma Center by the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH).

The doctors of the Hand Surgery and Upper Extremity Department have extensive experience in restoring war injuries having treated hundreds of such incidents.

Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery is an evolution of Orthopaedics. We live in a time when the refined specialization of Basic Medical Specialties is a generalized practice at all levels of Medicine. Thus, there emerged the specialty of the Surgery of the Hand and the Upper End.

Upper Extremity, today, is considered to be an autonomous organ of the Human Body. It is a very complex organ that includes many anatomical structures (bones, muscles, vessels, nerves, skin, tendons, etc.). The diagnosis of pathology and its treatment require coherent and comprehensive knowledge. It is inconceivable, for example, to treat a Shoulder without knowing the pathology of the Elbow and the Hand, as often the pain may be reflexive, due to the pathology of a neighboring area.

Athens Medical Group’s Department of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Reconstructive Orthopaedics and Microsurgery has been organizing a Seminar of Applied Surgery of the Upper Extremity since 2007. In this seminar, Most Orthopaedic Surgeons are trained in Upper Extremity Surgery.

It includes 3 sections:

• demonstration of surgical incidents with direct broadcasting from the Surgery to the “George Apostolopoulos” amphitheater at Athens Medical Center,
• lectures by distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad, and
• practice in cadaveric hands.

The seminars that have been organized so far have been attended by hundreds doctors.

Hip problems may affect anybody at any age, despite being usually associated with old age. The common cause of hip problems is osteoarthritis. Other causes include sports injuries, work accidents, falls and congenital diseases.

At Athens Medical Group we offer comprehensive and specialist orthopaedic treatment for all hip problems.

Our team of hip surgeons and orthopaedic specialists are leaders in their area of expertise offering the most up-to-date diagnosis, treatments and surgical techniques.

Athens Medical Group’s orthopaedic surgeons reconstruct thousands of hip joints each year, using innovative methods, with optimal results, such as total and partial hip replacement (arthroplasty), revision of previously replaced joints that are worn out or failed and arthroscopic hip surgery.

Replacement of joints with arthroplasty is the classic method for treating osteoarthritis.

Worn parts of the joints are replaced by artificial implants.

Special arthroplasty techniques

Athens Medical Group’s Orthopaedics Departments are International Reference Centers, for the performance of hip arthroplasty, with modern and innovative surgical techniques of minimal invasiveness, such as:

Hip Arthroplasty

• ASI (Anterior Supine Intermuscular)
• L.M.I.S (Antero-lateral-minimally-invasive-surgery)
• AMIS (Anterior-Minimally-Invasive-Surgery)

Total hip replacement (arthroplasty)

Total hip arthroplasty is the classic method for treating hip osteoarthritis. It is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced with metal, plastic or ceramic implants.

Total hip arthroplasty surgery usually lasts from 1 to 1.5 hours and the patient stays in the hospital for a few days.

ASI total hip replacement

Anterior Supine Intermuscular (ASI) is a painless and minimally traumatic method for total hip replacement that is considered the most modern for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip. Athens Medical Center is a reference and training center for the ASI total hip replacement method.

Compared with other total hip arthroplasty techniques, the ASI method presents significant advantages, such as:

• Intraoperative and postoperative blood loss is significantly reduced.
• The patient can be mobilized immediately, depending on his or her physical condition.
• Hospital stay is limited.
• The risk of inflammation and post-operative dislocation is almost zero.
• The risk of serious post-operative complications associated with long-term bedtime, such as thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is greatly reduced.
• Return to daily activities is fast.

It is also very important to note that the ASI technique is particularly suitable for overweight patients who until recently were not regarded as candidates for total hip arthroplasty.

Hip Arthroscopy

Athens Medical Group’s Orthopaedics Departments provide fully specialised monitoring and care for patients with traumatic or chronic hip joint disorders as well as for the treatment of undiagnosed pain.

The diseases that are treated with hip arthroscopy include the acetabular labral tear, femoroacetabular impingement or friction (CAM and pincer types), cartilage lesions and others.

This category also includes young patients with a history of sports injuries.

According to international medical bibliography, hip arthroscopy protects the hip from further damage that in the future may lead to its complete destruction, namely osteoarthritis.

Hip arthroscopy is performed through small holes on the skin from which a camera and other special, thin, arthroscopic tools are inserted.

Advantages

Hip arthroscopy not only accurately identifies and treats the pathological conditions of the joint, but also offers the advantage of:

1. rapidly mobilizing the patient
2. short hospital stay
3. quick recovery
4. minimum trauma

The knee is an active, weight-bearing joint and as such it is placed under a lot of stress and strain. The result is often pain and various problems for many people.

At Athens Medical Group we tailor the most suitable solution for you regardless of the cause of your knee problem.

Our team of orthopaedic surgeons, specialists, nurses and physiotherapists are leaders in their field and will provide you with comprehensive care.

At Athens Medical Group we offer all the orthopaedic services you need, from diagnosis to surgery to physical therapy. Our facilities are specially designed to make your care easy and comfortable.

Athens Medical Group’s orthopaedic surgeons reconstruct thousands of knee joints each year, using innovative methods, with optimal results, such as total and partial knee replacement (arthroplasty), revision of previously replaced joints that are worn out or failed and arthroscopic hip surgery.

Replacement of joints with arthroplasty is the classic method for treating osteoarthritis.

It has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of patients who who would permanently suffer from pain and disability.

Damaged parts of the joints are replaced with artificial implants.

Special arthroplasty techniques

Athens Medical Group’s Orthopaedics Departments are International Reference Centers, for the performance of knee arthroplasty, with modern and innovative surgical techniques of minimal invasiveness, such as:

• MIS (Minimal Invasive Surgery)
• Custom Knee Arthroplasty
• Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
• Robotic Asssisted Knee Surgery (soon to be performed)

Knee replacement is the surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee arthritis and its frequency increases significantly with age.

With knee replacement, worn parts of the knee are replaced with artificial materials. Modern prostheses have a long life and simulate the mechanics of a natural knee.

Knee arthroplasty can be done with general or epidural / dorsal anesthesia. The patient enters the hospital one day before surgery for preoperative check up. Knee replacement surgery usually lasts from 1 to 2 hours and generally the patient’s stay in the hospital is limited to a few days. The stitches are removed approximately two weeks after the surgery.

Postoperatively, a special physiotherapy program is followed for 3-4 weeks until the patient is able to climb stairs, unassisted.

The artificial knee currently used is the result of the advancement of digital and robotic technology. The artificial knee is constructed after taking into account all the information about the anatomic particularities of each patient.

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

It is a method that is constantly gaining ground and is recommended for localized symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Although it can be applied to all knee compartments (medial, lateral and patellofemoral), the main application of the unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is the replacement of the medial part of the joint, which is most often affected by idiopathic osteoarthritis of the knee.

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is a reliable solution for the treatment of localized knee osteoarthritis. The method is associated with better knee function and less postoperative pain compared to total knee replacement or high tibial osteotomy.

Long-term results, justify the application of unicompartmental knee replacement, as it is better than osteotomy and at least equal to total arthroplasty. Proper patient selection combined with precise surgical technique and material development can provide the best possible result to patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The advantages of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty compared to other surgical methods, especially when performed with limited access, include the retaining of the ligaments and normal articular cartilage in the unaffected parts of the knee, lower postoperative pain, less blood loss, faster mobilization of the patient and more natural kinematics and knee functionality.

Knee arthroscopy

During arthroscopy, the physician inserts special surgical instruments through two small holes, thereby acting diagnostically and therapeutically.

With these tools the doctor normalizes the damaged articular cartilage of the knee, removes the free particles (parts of the cartilage or meniscus), “cleaning” the joint and removing the inflammation.

If there is a rupture of the meniscus or the ligament, a simultaneous repair is carried out during knee arthroscopy.

Early arthroscopy of the knee may delay the progression of osteoarthritis, hence the need for more serious surgical procedures such as arthroplasty.

Arthroscopy is recommended for the following conditions of the knee:

• Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee
• Degenerative knee arthritis
• Patellar pathology
• Cruciate ligament ruptures
• Meniscal tears

The shoulder comprises of joints that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm. As such, the shoulder is very prone to injuries and other problems, resulting in pain and movement difficulty.

Shoulder conditions can be caused in many ways. They may be congenital or a result of injury. Arthritis can also play a major part.

Regardless of the cause of your condition, our team of experts at Athens Medical Group will offer you comprehensive care. Our highly trained orthopaedic surgeons, specialists and nurses are leaders in their area of expertise and will tailor a solution to your shoulder problem that best suits your needs and goals.

Treatment for a shoulder injury may include first aid measures, physical therapy, medicine, and, in some cases, surgery, depending on:

• The location, type, and severity of the injury
• How long ago the injury occurred
• Your age and overall health condition

Athens Medical Group’s shoulder surgeons and orthopaedic specialists treat all problems and conditions of the shoulder using innovative methods, with optimal results, such as shoulder arthroscopy and total arthroplasty. Conditions of the shoulder may include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Frozen shoulder
• Tendon disorders, such as rotator cuff tears
• Traumatic anterior instability of the shoulder
• Cartilage damages
• Acromioclavicular joint dislocation
• Fracture / dislocation of the shoulder

Shoulder arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that helps surgeons to inspect, diagnose and treat any problem within the elbow joint.

It is a minimally invasive approach in which the surgeon makes small incisions. As a result, blood loss during surgery is significantly reduced, post operative pain is minimized and recovery is faster.

Shoulder arthroplasty is a surgical procedure applied for the finite and effective treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis. In total, in shoulder arthroplasty articular surfaces are replaced with artificial implants. When the tendons are intact, then anatomic total arthroplasty is selected, whereas when there is a massive rupture of tendons, reverse total arthroplasty is preferred.