Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Mediterranean Health Care
 

Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Mediterranean Health Care

Orthopaedic surgery is surgery on the musculoskeletal system – bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, joints and connective tissues that hold your organs and tissues together.

Traumatology is the study of wounds and injuries caused by accidents, and surgery to repair these injuries. It is subspecialty of orthopaedic surgery. Mediterranean Health Care’s commitment to research, development and innovation means that we are able to provide the most effective treatment using the latest procedures. We are experts in arthroscopic surgery, a type of keyhole surgery used to diagnose and treat joint problems through very small incisions.

Why choose mediterranean health care?

  • We have extensive experience in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology
  • We specialise in minimally invasive techniques, which have shorter recovery times and leave smaller scars than traditional surgery
  • Our doctors and surgeons are leaders in their fields, regularly having their work published in prestigious medical journals and teaching at universities
  • Our centres hold internationally recognised International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) certificates for the quality of our technologies, patient care and facilities
  • We regularly work with leading European insurance companies to treat patients from abroad, and all of our doctors and surgeons speak English
  • Alicante’s warm, sunny climate makes it an ideal place to recover after surgery

Procedures

Mediterranean Health Care’s traumatology and orthopaedic surgery department is divided into the following specialisations:

  • ankle and foot
  • hand, wrist and elbow
  • hip
  • knee
  • shoulder
  • spine

ANKLE AND FOOT

Hallux valgus (bunion) and metatarsalgia (metatarsal pain)

Bunion surgery will correct the deformity at the front of your foot. This will allow you to walk normally, relieve pain in the ball of your foot caused by the bunion, and restore the normal appearance of your foot.

Bunions may be treated with open surgery or minimally invasive surgery. Both methods involve making a series of cuts (osteotomies) in the bone. Sometimes screws or staples are used to fix the bones in place. 

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and normally takes 30-60 minutes. You should be able to go home the same day.

HAND, WRIST AND ELBOW

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

The operation to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (known as carpal tunnel release surgery) usually improves all symptoms quickly. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be treated with open surgery or arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery through an incision of less than 1cm). Both methods work by cutting the carpal ligament that is causing the compression, which releases the nerve. The results are the same, but arthroscopy leaves a smaller scar.

The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and takes 10-15 minutes. You will probably be able to go home a few hours after the operation.

Elbow arthroscopy

Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that enables surgeons to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the elbow. For example, it may be used to remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage, or to treat epicondylitis (tennis elbow).

The procedure involves making 2-4 incisions measuring 0.5 cm around the elbow and inserting a tiny camera and instruments.

You will be given a local anaesthetic and sedation. The procedure takes 30-60 minutes and you will probably spend the night in hospital.

Wrist and trapeziometacarpal arthroscopy

Wrist arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that enables surgeons to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the soft parts of the wrist, such as injured ligaments, fractures, and the early stages of rhizarthrosis.

The procedure involves making 2-4 incisions measuring 0.3 cm around the wrist and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. 

You will be given a local anaesthetic and sedation. The length of the procedure depends on the condition that is being treated, but it usually takes around 30-60 minutes. You will probably spend one night in hospital.

HIP

Hip arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure for treating joint injuries to the hip or the surrounding area.

The procedure involves making 2-3 incisions measuring less than 1 cm and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. 

Surgery usually takes 1-2 hours, and you will probably spend one night in hospital.

Hip replacement

Hip replacement consists of replacing one or both parts of the hip joint: the femoral head (ball) and the acetabulum (socket). This eliminates pain and allows the hip to move normally again.

Nowadays there are many types of hip prostheses made of different materials and with different designs. The best type to use depends on your specific case. The main procedures are: 

  • "Traditional" total hip replacement: the damaged femoral head (ball) at the top of the thigh bone is removed, and an artificial ball (on a stem) and socket are implanted. This is the most common type of prosthesis for patients who are active.
  • Hip resurfacing: unlike traditional hip replacement, hip resurfacing does not replace the ball of the hip, and it leaves more of the bone intact. This makes it suitable for young, active patients, especially men.
  • Mini hip replacement: the prostheses used in this procedure are similar to those used in traditional surgery, but the stem inserted into the thigh bone is smaller and less of the ball of the hip is removed. This procedure is suitable for young, active patients.
  • Partial hip replacement: only the ball of the hip is replaced. This technique is used in elderly patients.  

The procedure usually takes about an hour, and you will have to stay in hospital for 3-5 days.

KNEE

Cartilage injury surgery by arthroscopy

The treatment for cartilage injuries depends on the extent of the damage and the exact location of the injury. It usually involves making two 0.5 cm incisions around the knee and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. Depending on the condition being treated, more incisions may be required.

You will probably be given a spinal anaesthesia to numb the lower half of your body. The procedure takes 30-60 minutes, and you will most likely spend one night in hospital.

Extraction of loose bodies around the joint by arthroscopy

When knee cartilage softens, flaking, cracking and ulceration can occur and fragments of cartilage may come loose. Arthroscopy is a procedure used to remove these loose bodies and treat the area from which they have become loose to encourage healing.

The procedure usually involves making two 0.5 cm incisions around the knee and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. Depending on the condition being treated, more incisions may be required.

You will probably be given a spinal anaesthesia to numb the lower half of your body. The procedure takes 30-60 minutes, and you will probably spend one night in hospital.

Knee ligament repair (ACL & PCL)

Knee ligament repair, or ligamentoplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure to repair the anterior and/or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL and PCL). 

The procedure involves replacing the ruptured ligament with a graft. There are different types of grafts and different methods for fixing the graft to the knee bone.

Knee ligament injuries may be treated by arthroscopy, which only uses two very small incisions. However, an additional incision is often required to remove the tendon and create the graft to replace the torn ligament.

You will probably be given a spinal anaesthesia to numb the lower half of your body. The procedures takes around an hour, and you will most likely spend one night in hospital.

Meniscal injury repair by arthroscopy (meniscectomy)

The meniscus is a wedge-shaped cartilage ring that stabilises the knee when you bend, stretch or rotate. The most common meniscal injury is the meniscal tear, which is caused by twisting, bad support, slipping, etc.

The most common treatment for a meniscal injury is surgery to remove of all or part of the meniscus. This is done through a minimally invasive procedure known as knee arthroscopy. It usually involves making two 0.5 cm incisions around the knee and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. Sometimes more incisions are required.

You will probably be given a spinal anaesthesia to numb the lower half of your body. The procedure takes 30-60 minutes, and you will most likely spend one night in hospital.

Total knee replacement

A total knee replacement involves replacing a knee joint with a prosthesis. This eliminates pain and allows the knee to move normally again. 

Nowadays there are different types of knee replacements. The main procedures are:

  • primary total knee replacement: a rod is inserted into the tibia (shin bone), and another into the femur (thigh bone). If necessary, a third part is attached to the patella (kneecap).
  • unicompartmental knee prosthesis: only one part of the knee is replaced. This may be part of the joint between the femur and the tibia (unicondylar knee replacement) or the back of the kneecap (palletar prosthesis)
  • revision prosthesis: this procedure is used if a prosthesis needs to be replaced or if there is severe deformation

SHOULDER

Rotator cuff tear repair by arthroscopy

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that cover your shoulder joint.

Rotator cuff tears are treated by shoulder arthroscopy. This involves making 2-5 incisions measuring 0.5 cm and inserting a tiny camera and instruments. The tendons are repaired with sutures (stitches) and fastened to the bone using either bone attachments coated with a material that is reabsorbed by the body, or titanium.

You will be given a local anaesthetic and sedation, and be sitting or lying on your side during the operation. The procedure takes 30-90 minutes, and you will probably spend one night in hospital.

Shoulder subacromial decompression by arthroscopy

Subacromial impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles in your shoulder become irritated and inflamed as they pass under the acromion bone at the top of your shoulder blade, causing pain.

In a shoulder arthroscopy to treat subacromial impingement syndrome, two incisions measuring 0.5 cm are made and a tiny camera and instruments are inserted. The subacromial bursa is partially removed, as well as part of the bone under the acromion that is in contact with the tendon and causing the pain (acromioplasty).

You will be given a local anaesthetic and sedation, and be sitting or lying on your side during the operation. The procedure takes 30-90 minutes, and you will probably spend one night in hospital.

Shoulder instability and recurrent shoulder dislocation

The purpose of this operation is to repair injuries caused by recurrent dislocation, in order to help prevent the shoulder becoming dislocated again. During the procedure, several 0.5 cm incisions are made around the shoulder and a tiny camera and instruments are then inserted. The soft tissues are repaired with sutures (stitches) and fastened to the bone using either bone attachments coated with a material that is reabsorbed by the body, or titanium.

You will be given a local anaesthetic and sedation, and be sitting or lying on your side during the operation. The procedure takes 30-90 minutes, and you will probably spend one night in hospital.

SPINE

Arthrodesis (fusion) of the cervical or lumbar spine

Arthrodesis treats back pain by fusing two or more vertebrae using screws, rods or plates. The exact procedure will depend on the condition you have.

The operation usually takes 1-5 hours, depending on the type of procedure and the location of the vertebrae being fused. You will have to stay in hospital for 1-10 days following your surgery.

Cervical, dorsal or lumbar discectomy

Cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) discectomy involves removing damaged disc material from between your vertebrae that is compressing nerves and causing pain (sciatica), paralysis or loss of feeling.

There are several ways of carrying out a discectomy. The exact procedure used will depend on factors such as your age and the location of the disc that is causing the problem. Depending on the procedure, the operation will take between 15 minutes and 2 hours. You will have to stay in hospital for 1-3 days following your surgery.

Cervical, dorsal or lumbar nucleoplasty

Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to relieve pain or loss of feeling caused by a bulging disc between your vertebrae. It works by removing material from inside the nucleus of the disc in order to reduce pressure on the nerve. A needle is inserted into the disc, and a wire with a special probe connected to a radiofrequency device is threaded down the needle. Thermoelectric energy is then applied to remove some of the material inside the disc.

You will be given local anaesthetic and sedation. The procedure takes about 20 minutes, and you should be able to go home about an hour after the operation.

Dynamic vertebral stabilisation

Dynamic vertebral (spine) stabilisation or flexible stabilisation is a surgical technique to treat back pain coming from the joints of the lumbar spinal column (lower back pain, or lumbago) or the nerve roots coming out of the spine (sciatica).

During the procedure, an incision will be made in your lower back. The surgeon will insert two screws into each of the vertebrae to be treated, which will then be used to attach a dynamic stabilisation system. This may be a flexible connector rod or a flexible energy absorption system. This system will stabilise the joints between your vertebrae and bear the stress that would otherwise be borne by your spinal joints.

The operation usually takes place under general anaesthetic. You will be allowed to get out of bed the day after the operation, but you will have to stay in hospital for 2-4 days.

Prosthesis of the cervical spine by arthroplasty

Cervical arthroplasty (cervical disc replacement surgery) involves replacing a disc between the vertebrae in your neck with a prosthesis. This should allow you to move your neck normally again.

During the procedure, an incision will be made in the front of your neck (the scar is usually not very obvious afterwards).  The cervical disc will be completely emptied, and a prosthesis will be inserted to replace it.

The procedure takes place under general anaesthetic, and usually lasts for 30-90 minutes, depending on the number of discs being replaced. You will have to stay in hospital for 12-36 hours.

Radiofrequency rhizolysis (denervation)

Rhizolysis or denervation is a non-invasive technique used to treat some types of back pain. It works by heating specific nerve endings in the joints between your vertebrae to reduce the pain signals these nerves send.

During the procedure, needle-like tubes called cannulas will be inserted in three or more places on each side of your spine. The surgeon will then thread an electrode through each cannula and use this to apply radiofrequency for a few seconds to heat the nerves.

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, and should take 30-45 minutes. You will be able to go home the same day.

OUR CENTRES

We treat orthopaedic conditions at two of our centres in Alicante, Spain. They are modern hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment and private rooms with an extra bed so that you can have someone stay with you at no extra cost, if you wish. Both centres are easily accessible by all forms of transport.

Hospital Clínica Vistahermosa has a full range of facilities, including 93 inpatient rooms and 8 operating theatres. It has an excellent reputation within the local community, and regularly runs teaching programmes, workshops and seminars for its staff and students as well as staff from other hospitals.

The Medimar International Hospital is a fully equipped hospital complex with 66 inpatient rooms. It is constantly updating its facilities to ensure that it continues to provide pioneering healthcare, and won the Alicante Chamber of Commerce Award for Business Innovation in 2007. 

Ankle and Foot

Hand, Wrist and Elbow

Hip

Knee

Shoulder

Spine