ORTHOPEDICS

Innovative Techniques - Treatments

At Metropolitan General, innovative surgical techniques and treatments are applied, such as Minimally Invasive Surgery - M.I.S techniques, advanced arthroscopic techniques, biological treatments, robotically assisted orthopedic operations using navigators or digital systems and fast -track rehabilitation protocols.

Indicatively, the following are performed:

• Arthroplasty using Minimally Invasive techniques such as posterior MIS, AMIS, ALMIS, ALMIS supine etc
• Custom-made hip arthroplasties
• One-day Hospitalization Arthroplasty with digital navigation in combination with fast track mobilization protocols
• Regenerative and Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgery
• Biological Treatments with infusions of stem cells, P.R.P, chondrocytes
• Advanced Arthroscopic Surgery and Shoulder Surgery
• Spinal Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Computerized Assisted and Navigational Orthopedic Surgery

Surgical Operations

The whole range of orthopedic surgical operations is performed, such as:

• Knee-shoulder-hip-ankle arthroscopies
• Total hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasties
• Total arthroplasties of the knee, with individualized bone cutting guides
• Unicameral arthroplasties
• Reverse shoulder arthroplasties
• Revision of total arthroplasties
• Endoscopic microdiscectomy and kyphoplasty
• Intramedullary nailing
• Management of orthopedic injuries & fractures with classic and transcutaneous techniques
• Treatment of soft tissue and bone tumors
• Treatment of chronic bone infections
• Procedures using microsurgical techniques

ROSA: ROBOT-ASSISTED SYSTEM FOR KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Metropolitan General has the state-of-the-art ROSA robot-assisted orthopedic surgery system (ZIMMER - BIOMET, USA). The ROSA System includes a highly accurate and adaptable software as well as a multi-motion robotic arm that identifies the precise location where surgical manipulations should be carried out, allowing for the maximum level of precision when placing knee arthroplasties.

The artificial joint is implanted based on the anthropometric characteristics of each patient individually, thus delivering an excellent postoperative outcome and longer life of implants. In addition, real-time monitoring of patient anatomic data through special software provides the surgeon with the appropriate feedback control, while, at the same time, it helps achieve individualized adjustment based on each patient's needs.

The ROSA Robot-Assisted System ensures high-precision surgical technique to minimize complications and accelerate postoperative recovery.

NAVIO: ROBOT-ASSISTED SYSTEM FOR KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

It is one of the most modern and innovative robot-assisted orthopedic surgery systems approved by the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information, USA), which enables the performance of high-precision arthroplasties. It reduces both the incision length and soft tissue disruption (Minimally Invasive Surgery-compatible), allowing for a short hospital stay, rapid mobilization as well as minimal pain and blood loss (1-3 days length-of-stay, Fast Track Surgery).

NAVIO Surgical Systems have been in use since 2014 in the United States of America, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Greece was the 4^th European nation to purchase this system, and Metropolitan General will serve as a Training Hub for 22 countries in the SE Mediterranean and the Balkans.

The following advantages make NAVIO one of the most cutting-edge robot-assisted systems available:

• Less patient exposure to radiation, as no preoperative CT-scan is needed
• High resolution and detailed reporting on the tension of knee ligaments during the procedure
• Procedure simulation before the initiation of surgical manipulations
• Ability to apply 6 different types of knee arthroplasty, based on the age and activity level of each patient

ΝAVISWISS, HIP NAVIGATION SYSTEM

Naviswiss, a fast intraoperative navigation system, allows the performance of Total Hip Arthroplasty with high accuracy and excellent functional outcomes.

It is compatible with the entire range of Total Hip Arthroplasty implants, without requiring the use of extra software or accessories. It supports all types of surgical access as well as primary procedures and revisions, without the need for preoperative imaging tests (X-rays, CT, or MRI).

The system has stamp-size sensors, which are inserted inside the bones during the surgical procedure. Using the sensors, the infrared camera records both the orientation and the position of bone structures in full detail, thus enabling the machine to deliver real-time, accurate reference angles reporting (i.e. compared to baseline) to confirm proper implant fitting.
Ii is also capable of accurately estimating the length of the surgery limb to preserve limb length equality (i.e. the length of the operated limb should not differ from its preoperative length). The software provides instructions at every step of the procedure, through graphics and texts.

Advantages

• No need for preoperative imaging tests (CT or MRI) - Less exposure to radiation
• Compatible with all arthroplasty implants
• Supports all types of surgical access, primary procedures and revisions
• Technologically unique, stamp-size sensors
• Proper alignment of the acetabulum (the cup-shaped socket of the hip joint)
• Highly accurate implant insertion (accurate identification of the implant position)
• Preserves limb length equality
• Less risk of complications
• Optimal functional outcome

Νaviswiss with Hip NaviPlan software

An additional capability of the Νaviswiss system is the accompanying Hip NaviPlan software (3D preoperative planning), which can be used optionally and supplementary to support the preoperative planning of Total Hip Arthroplasty, based on 3D computed tomography (CT) imaging. It uses advanced algorithms to assist surgeons in selecting the appropriate implants for each patient individually. Furthermore, such algorithms, along with the visual identification of bone reference points, also provide intraoperative support to more detailed implantation of the arthroplasty.

Diseases which are treated include

• Fractures and dislocations of the bones and joints
• Emergency soft tissue traumatology (tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles, etc)
• Osteoarthritides (knees, hips, ankles, hands, etc)
• Spondyloarthritides
• Herniated discs
• Cervical syndrome, shoulder periarthritides, upper & lower extremities nerve entrapments, etc)
• Intra-articular damages (meniscal tears, cruciate ligaments tears, etc)

Treatment of Sports Injuries

Μetropolitan General cooperates with orthopedic physicians specialized in sports injuries, orthopedic traumatology and sports assessment. That is why many athletes and teams, on an amateur and professional level, have confidence in them.

Opening hours 

On a daily basis, all orthopedic cases, chronic or not, are covered by the Outpatient Department. The Emergency Department which runs on a 24-hour basis, covers all orthopedic emergencies (road accidents, working accidents, falls, acute low back pain-lumbago, acute shoulder periarthritis, osteoporotic hip and spine fractures, etc).