Blog

Medical science, and particularly the specialty of Orthopedics, has advanced significantly in recent years and continues to develop rapidly for the benefit of patients.

The challenges that need to be addressed are substantial and relate to the continuous increase in life expectancy and the improvement of patients’ quality of life, including those of more advanced age.

Conditions such as osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis and rheumatologic forms of arthritis need to be treated quickly, effectively and safely in an increasingly large segment of the population.

Large Joint Disorders: Shoulder Region

The large joints (hip, knee, shoulder) undergo wear and degeneration over the years, causing significant dysfunction.

Degeneration and destruction of the cartilage covering the articulating surfaces of the bones can result in severe pain, even at rest, stiffness and joint deformity.

In the shoulder region, the effects of arthritis can make everyday life extremely difficult, as the patient may struggle to use the upper limb even for basic self-care.

The difficulty is particularly evident when attempting to raise the upper limb, which may become almost impossible when lifting weight or against resistance.

A similar clinical picture is seen in patients with ligament and tendon injuries in the region, conditions that are more commonly encountered at younger ages (e.g. rotator cuff tears, ligamentous instability – shoulder dislocation / subluxation, subacromial impingement syndrome).

Large Joint Disorders: Hip Region

In the hip joint, arthritis, in addition to pain and stiffness, may cause shortening of the lower limb (leg length discrepancy), which in turn may affect the function of the spine (e.g. low back pain / sciatica) and the knee.

A significant proportion of the population is born with anatomical abnormalities of the hip joint (dysplasia, congenital dislocation) or is exposed to the harmful effects of medications (e.g. cortisone) and diseases (e.g. hematological disorders) that may cause osteonecrosis of the femoral head and lead to the development of early hip arthritis.

Patients with hip arthritis may have difficulty walking and bending the hip, while simple daily movements such as sitting on a low piece of furniture or putting on socks may become impossible.

Large Joint Disorders: Knee Region

The knee joint is a highly complex joint, as it involves three articulating bones (femur, tibia, patella) and has a relatively wide range of motion.

The joint is frequently affected by osteoarthritis, with pain, stiffness and characteristic varus or valgus deformity (the tibia angles inward or outward in relation to the femur).

Due to the complexity of the joint, ligament injuries (anterior/posterior cruciate ligament tears, medial / lateral collateral ligament tears), meniscal injuries (medial / lateral meniscus tears) and osteochondral lesions are also common.

New Developments in the Treatment of Large Joint Disorders

The Large Joints Clinic of the Athens Medical Center is one of the most established clinics for the treatment of the above conditions.

The combination of our specialization and many years of experience, together with a very large number of successful procedures performed using minimally invasive techniques, specifically:

• ASI – Anterior Supine Intermuscular method for hip arthroplasty
• Application of a protocol for preventing leg length discrepancy in total hip arthroplasty
• MIS – Minimal Invasive Surgery method for total knee arthroplasty
• ROSA robotic knee surgery
• Shoulder / knee / hip arthroscopy
• Application of fast-track protocols for short hospitalization and patient recovery

has established the Large Joints Clinic of the Athens Medical Center as a pioneer in this field. It is also worth noting the international recognition of our Clinic, having been selected as the only reference center in Greece and one of the few in Europe for training in the ASI (Anterior Supine Intermuscular) technique.

Specialization and Organized Hospital Facilities:

Procedures for the treatment of Large Joint disorders require specialization, modern hospital infrastructure and equipment, and collaboration between medical specialties that make up the Multidisciplinary Team.

Continuous updates on scientific developments, combined with the ongoing investments of Athens Medical Group in biomedical equipment, enable us to provide the latest modern technology across the Group’s hospitals, allowing us to offer the most personalized, safe and minimally invasive solution for every case involving the Large Joints, no matter how complex.