Hip & Knee replacement, ACL abroad! Premium quality, safe and reasonably priced.

Hello!
Orthopaedic Riga is the number one choice for many UK patients who are considering undergoing a hip replacement, knee replacement or ACL reconstruction procedures abroad.

Procedure prices

Procedure	Surgery	Implant
Hip replacement	£ 3 380	from £ 1 740
Knee replacement	£ 3 380	£ 2 480
ACL reconstruction	£ 2 380	£ 540

1700
procedures
per year

97,2 %
success
rate

2,8 %
revision
rate

Our two leading orthopaedic surgeons each perform over 850 procedures annually.

Patient Reviews

Annabel McMeeking, Livingston

I am 75 years old living in UK. So I needed a total knee replacement surgery. I checked with a clinic at home to go privately and was quoted £12,500. This was a huge amount of money to my husband and myself. Read more

Paul Duncan, Co Tyrone

I have had my right hip totally replaced at Orthopaedic Riga in Sep 2017. I would like to thank them for their excellent work! At the Clinic you feel a difference to a big clinical hospital, it’s a more personal experience. Read more

Matthew Murphy, co Louth Eire

A friend of mine recommended going to Latvia for a knee replacement procedure. I googled and researched it and found Orthopaedic Riga. Read more

Suada Mohamud, London

My son is 16 years old; he plays professional basketball. He had an inquiry. Our doctor at home said my son had to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery and we finally decided to go ahead. Read more

Graeme Milne, Cookham

Romiel from Orthopaedic Riga could not have been more helpful and was very professional. The hospital was only built around a year ago and was spotlessly clean. Read more

* This is feedback from our former patients, and such an outcome cannot be guaranteed or promised.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Table Of Contents:

Orthopaedic Surgeons
Education and Training of Orthopaedic Surgeons
What Conditions do They Treat?
Types of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Orthopaedic Generalist
Orthopaedic Surgery Specialists
Medical Orthopaedist
How Does a Visit to the Orthopaedist Usually Unfold?
Orthopaedic Riga: Our Surgeons
Dr. Alexander Omelchenko – Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Wissam Raphael – Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon
Some of the Many Reasons to Have Your Surgery at Orthopaedic Riga

Orthopaedic surgery is a type of surgery that addresses and treats skeletal problems of the joints, bones and ligaments. These may be problems that originated at birth or they may be the result of injury or, in the case of many joint related problems, a result of age.

Originally the orthopaedic surgeon’s mission was to treat skeletal deformities in children (hence the name ortho-“paedic”), typically by using a variety of braces to try and straighten the child’s bones. Over time however improvements in anaesthesia as well as the evolution of aseptic surgical practices meant that orthopaedics as a discipline was able to broaden its range to include procedures involving the bones, joints and ligaments as previously mentioned. Today, of the more than 320 million surgeries performed each year worldwide a significant percentage of them are some type of orthopaedic procedure.

While some orthopaedic surgeons maintain a general practice others focus on specific types of surgery and such is the case with Orthopaedic Riga. Our world-class surgical team specialise in:

Hip replacement
Knee replacement
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction

If you believe you are in need of any of these procedures contact our UK Patient Coordinator at the number we’ll provide at the bottom of this guide.

Popular Types of Orthopaedic Surgery

There have been many advances in orthopaedic surgery and orthopaedic procedures today take many forms intended to provide people the relief they need from painful or debilitating skeletal conditions. The following are some of the most popular types of orthopaedic procedures performed today.

Joint Replacement

Joint replacement surgery has become commonplace with tens of thousands of procedures performed worldwide every year. If you are dealing with chronic pain or limited mobility due to an injury or degenerative joint condition it’s vital that you speak to an orthopaedist to discuss your options and determine whether joint replacement surgery is for you. That said, here are the different types of joint replacement surgery.

Knee Replacement – The knee is the largest and perhaps the most important joint in the body. If it is damaged by accident, sports injury or degenerative diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis it can change every facet of your life. With total knee replacement the surgeon typically removes damaged cartilage along with any parts of the end of the femur (thigh bone) or tibia (shin bone) that might have lost integrity. These are then replaced with metal or ceramic components that allow for accurate replication of the natural movement of the knee joint. A spacer made of a special pliable material is inserted into the centre of the joint to take the place of the cartilage and ensure that the motion of the reconstructed knee will be smooth and dependable.

Knee replacement surgery is typically indicated when the patient is suffering from serious injury, chronic inflammation of the knee, impaired mobility due to degenerative conditions or when other methods of treatment have failed to produce the desired relief.

Hip Replacement – Like all the joints related to locomotion the hip joint is big and important. And like the shoulder joint it is a ball and socket joint that most commonly wears down due to degenerative causes like arthritis or simple overuse with age. Problems with the hip joint can have a profound effect on a person’s quality of life, causing a previously active, involved person to become sedentary or even housebound.

During hip replacement surgery the head of the femur (the ball of the ball and socket) is typically removed and a metal stem with a new ball atop it driven down into the hollow of the femur. This stem is held in place with a special cement. The worn socket is replaced with a new socket into which the new ball joint will fit. This new socket is usually made of metal as well. Between the ball and socket is inserted that same pliable synthetic material as would go in the knee joint and which takes the place of cartilage that was removed and ensures smooth operation of the rebuilt joint.

Hip replacement surgery will typically be indicated if pain and degeneration in the joint causes you to limit your movements, if pain continues while you are at rest, if you have chronic stiffness in the joint or if other, non-surgical treatment options have proved ineffective.

Other Orthopaedic Procedures

ACL Surgery – While the knee is undoubtedly one of the most important, if not the most important, joints of the body it would not be much without something to hold it together. That something is the anterior (front) cruciate ligament or ACL. While the knee also contains what is known as the posterior (rear) cruciate ligament (or PCL) it is the ACL that does most of the work and bears the brunt of most of the stresses generated by walking, running and jumping. ACL replacement surgery typically calls for a graft of material from another part of the body to replace the torn ACL. In most cases that means using the patient’s own patellar tendon (tendon of the kneecap) or one of their hamstring tendons to rebuild the knee. On rare occasions there may be material taken from a deceased donor available to use for the graft, but these instances are few and far between.

ACL repair surgery is usually indicated only when there has been an avulsion fracture. An avulsion fracture occurs when the ACL has pulled so hard on the femur or tibia that the bone where the ligament is attached has broken away. Since the ligament itself is still intact the bone fragment with the end of the ligament attached is reconnected to the leg bone, typically using screws and a special cement. ACL surgery is usually done arthroscopically using small incisions at various points around the knee joint. A light and camera are inserted into one of these incisions allowing the surgeon to see while the necessary tools to conduct the surgery are inserted through the other incisions.

Spinal Fusion – If you are a golf fan you are aware that the great Tiger Woods recently played his first golf tournament in a year and the first one in which he was pain free in nearly 3 years. How was he able to do that? Orthopaedic spinal fusion surgery. But sports legends aren’t the only ones able to benefit from this procedure. During a spinal fusion your surgeon carefully removes worn out or otherwise damaged cartilage that are causing sections of the spine to rub together. Metal plates are inserted that span the affected portions of the spinal column and these are then held in place using screws. The new arrangement ensures the sections of the back that were causing the pain will be held apart and will eventually fuse into a single unit.

In some cases arthroscopic surgery can be used for spinal fusion which will produce a shorter recovery time and less postoperative discomfort. Fusion surgery is sometimes performed on other parts of the body as well including ankles or feet. If you have this type of surgery on your lower legs you’ll need to use crutches for a while afterward in order to keep the weight off of the affected leg while it heals.

More About Arthroscopic Surgery

There are a variety of reasons orthopaedic surgeons use arthroscopic surgery instead of traditional “open” surgery to deal with injuries to the ACL. Those reasons include:

They get a crystal clear, magnified view of the area they need to work one.
It requires a smaller amount of tissue to be cut than traditional surgery.
Arthroscopic surgery can be performed at the same time a diagnosis is made using arthroscopy so there is no need in some cases for multiple visits to the doctor.
It can be performed using either a local or general anaesthesia.
Recovery time is typically shorter than with open surgery.

As briefly described above the orthopaedic surgeon will make several small incisions around the knee into which will be inserted a light and camera as well as whatever implements are needed to effect repairs. One of those instruments is a drill which is used to create holes in the femur and tibia. The graft material is then pulled through the new holes at both ends and secured to the bone with screws or staples. The incisions are then closed using stitches or sometimes tape. After surgery the patient can expect to spend 2 or 3 hours in the recovery room.

In most cases patients will be on their feet within 1 day of surgery and be discharged within 5-6 days. There are exceptions of course. Particularly if there have been complications. But most people are pleasantly surprised at how quickly they are recovering after such a major procedure.

Note: if there is damage to other components of the knee such as the menisci, cartilage or other ligaments the surgeon will address them as well.

After Arthroscopic Surgery

While arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery and is most often performed on an outpatient basis there may be extenuating circumstances that call for the patient to stay overnight for observation. These instances are rare however.

In general you are likely to experience an overall feeling of fatigue for several days after arthroscopic surgery. You may have a feeling of numbness in and around the knee and the knee will definitely be swollen and discoloured. Bruising and swelling may extend down the shin to the ankle as well although it should go away within a couple of days. The most important things to remember in the early days after surgery is to keep the knee clean and dry and to keep your eyes open for signs of possible infection.

The primary goal of arthroscopic ACL surgery is to restore normal strength and mobility in the knee. It is also crucial to re-establish stability in the knee joint and to prevent, or at least minimize, any loss of function.

Less Common But No Less Important Forms Surgery

Internal Fixation – This type of surgery is similar to fusion in that foreign objects are used to hold 2 or more sections of bone together while they heal. Essentially this type of surgery replaces the need for external casts in many cases. The difference between this type of procedure and fusion surgery is that most of the time the objects used to stabilize the bones while they heal are removed afterward. Note that we say “most of the time” because there are occasions where the stabilizing elements used are left in place after healing is complete. Some of the implants used to hold bone fragments together include:

Screws: The most common element used for fixation.
Plates: Used to hold long sections of broken bone together like an internal splint.
Nails or rods: Inserted into the hollow centre of the bone to help hold the bone straight.
Wires: Often used to hold together small sections of bone too small to accept screws.

In some cases external fixators are used to stabilize large or vital portions of the skeleton when the muscles in that area have also sustained damage.

Osteotomy – Osteotomy is the process of altering the length or alignment of a bone in order to correct conditions such as hallux valgus or coxa vara or to straighten a bone that may have healed crooked after being fractured. Osteotomy can also be used to relieve the pain of arthritis although this option is falling out of favour, especially with older patients who are increasingly opting for joint replacement.

Orthopaedic Surgeons

The orthopaedist is on the front lines when it comes to diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Millions of people worldwide are hospitalized every year with joint, ligament and other skeletal problems and without the orthopaedic surgeon most would be facing an uncertain future whose defining characteristics would be pain and incapacity. Thankfully the surgeon is there to fill the treatment void and get these individuals back on their feet. It’s important work that has a larger positive effect than most people realise on our society as a whole.

Education and Training of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Orthopaedic surgeons must undergo extensive training in both the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system. That typically includes up to 14 years of specialised training and formal education. There are not many other professions that call for such extensive training so in order to complete such a rigorous preparatory regimen the aspiring surgeon needs to be completely dedicated to the goal. Education and on the job training required to become such a surgeon includes:

4 years of undergraduate work.
4 years of medical school.
5 years of orthopaedic residency.
1 additional year of specialised training (common though not mandatory).

Following the completion of their residency and any specialised training they must pass both a written and oral exam and demonstrate their overall mastery by way of a peer review process in order to become board certified. It’s a long and arduous path but one that typically results in only the best, most dedicated and qualified individuals becoming orthopaedic surgeons.

But the process doesn’t end there because most will need to undergo recertification every 10 years in order to prove their skills are still sharp and that they have been keeping abreast of recent developments in orthopaedic medicine.

What Conditions do They Treat?

The number and type of musculoskeletal conditions the surgeon treats makes for a long list. Be aware however, as we’ll see below, a good many orthopaedic surgeons find it more useful to specialise in treatment of a given condition or set of conditions (such as joint reconstruction). That said the conditions typically treated by orthopaedic surgeons includes:

Back injuries, ruptured discs, sciatica and more.
Fracture bones and dislocated joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoporosis.
Osteoarthritis.
Bowed legs, knock knees, club foot.
Abnormalities of the hands and feet.
Orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine.
Work related injuries.
Sprains, strains and torn ligaments.
And more…

Types of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Orthopaedic Generalist – This type of orthopaedist treats a wide range of musculoskeletal issues and may utilise a variety of surgical techniques ranging from traditional open surgery to state of the art arthroscopic procedures. The orthopaedic generalist may wind up treating one type of condition more than others but that does not mean they specialise in that area, but rather that simply reflects the cases that are being brought to them. Generalists may have their own practice or they may work in hospitals where they are likely to be exposed to every conceivable type of orthopaedic condition. It is not uncommon as well for a generalist to decide in time to focus on one type of orthopaedic procedure and thereby become a specialist.

Orthopaedic Surgery Specialists – There are nearly as many types of orthopaedic specialist as there are bones in the human body. Some will focus on conditions of the hand and arms, others will focus on conditions of the back and may only perform spinal fusions, others will specialise in sports injuries while still others will focus on trauma surgery. At Orthopaedic Riga our world class orthopaedic surgeons focus on hip and knee replacement surgery as well as the repair and/or reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL.

Medical Orthopaedist – The medical orthopaedist is not a surgeon but rather an orthopaedic doctor who treats a range of conditions with non-surgical techniques and therapies. The medical orthopaedist will typically treat muscle sprains and strains or perhaps fractures as well. Tendonitis, bursitis and something like repetitive stress syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome may also be treated by the medical orthopaedist. The medical orthopaedist also sees a large number of patients with age-related conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis that require treatment but do not always require surgery. Treatments may include physical therapy, dietary changes, lifestyle changes and/or medication.

How Does a Visit to the Orthopaedist Usually Unfold?

Your visit to the orthopaedic clinic will typically begin with a face to face interview during which time you will be asked questions relevant to your particular condition. There will likely be a physical exam and there may be blood tests, X-rays or other diagnostic procedures. The surgeon will then discuss treatment options with you including radiology vs orthopaedic surgery and make sure you understand the pros and cons of each option so that you can make an informed decision.

Orthopaedic Riga: Our Surgeons

The orthopaedic surgeons at Orthopaedic Riga are some of the most experienced anywhere when it comes to knee and hip replacement surgery as well as ACL repair and reconstruction. The two surgeons who head our staff have 30 and 17 years of experience respectively in general orthopaedics as well as decades of combined experience in their fields of speciality. When you entrust your care to the team at Orthopaedic Riga you are choosing quality, dependability and affordability. Let’s take a few moments and meet our principal surgeons.

Dr. Alexander Omelchenko – Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon

Doctor Omelchenko is a highly acclaimed surgeon with more than 30 years of experience in general orthopaedics. Each year Dr Omelchenko performs more than 850 procedures on patients from all over Europe, North America and Asia. He is recognized as an expert in the fields of total hip replacement, total knee replacement as well as ACL/PCL repairs, shoulder joint arthroscopy, ligament tears and more. You would be hard pressed to find a more competent, more experienced or more acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon anywhere. The doctor also speaks fluent English. His CV is an impressive one to say the least:

Graduate of Riga P. Stradina University in trauma and orthopaedic surgery in 1986.
He gained valuable experience and honed his skills while conducting further studies in prestigious medical institutions in Sweden, France, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany.
He is on the board of the Latvian Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy and Sport Trauma Association.
He is a member of the Latvian Trauma and Orthopaedic Association.
As well as being a member of the Latvian Burns Association.

Doctor Omelchenko has also attended numerous conferences and congresses over the years including:

The International Orthopaedic Congress, Sweden.
Hip Symposium: 25 Years of Hydroxyapatite, DePuy Institute, Switzerland.
Masterclass: Difficult Primary and Revision Knee, Zimmer Institute, Latvia.
Hip and Knee, Zimmer Institute, Lithuania.
Masterclass Hip and Knee, Zimmer Institute, Austria.
Basic Total Knee Replacement, DePuy Institute, Lithuania.
Total Joint Replacement, Latvia.
Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopy, Stryker, Lithuania.
Upper Limb Periarticular Fractures, AOTrauma, Estonia.
And many more…

Dr. Wissam Raphael – Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon

Doctor Raphael is another highly regarded orthopaedist who has been providing first class treatment to individuals from all across Europe for 17 years. He too performs on average more than 850 orthopaedic procedures annually which makes him – along with Dr Omelchenko – one of the most experienced orthopaedic specialists in Northern Europe. Like his colleague Dr Omelchenko, Dr Raphael specialises in total hip replacement, total knee replacement and ACL tears and repairs and has more than 10 years’ experience in each specialty. He is also fluent in English.

He graduated in 1998 from the Latvian Medical Academy as an MD.
Graduated in 2004 from Riga P. Stradina University as an Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon.
He gained widespread experience and expertise in England, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and the United States.
He is on the board of the Latvian Knee Surgery, Arthroscopy and Sport Trauma Association.
He is a member of the European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy.
He is a member of the Latvian Trauma and Orthopaedic Association.
He is a member of the Latvian Hip and Knee Association.
He is an alumni member of the European AO Association.

Some of the Many Reasons to Have Your Surgery at Orthopaedic Riga

Orthopaedic Riga offers patients comprehensive orthopaedic care in a state of the art facility staffed with some of the most accomplished and acclaimed orthopaedic surgeons you will find anywhere. Supporting physicians, nurses, physical therapists and more are all chosen for their expertise as well as their dedication to outstanding patient care. Orthopaedic Riga patients benefit from the comprehensive team approach of our staff which is apparent from the minute they first speak to our UK patient coordinator all the way through their 10 years of follow up. Orthopaedic Riga takes a back seat to no other medical facility when it comes to ensuring patient safety and comfort, preventing infections and providing access to top physical therapists.

Some of the Reasons to Choose Orthopaedic Riga Include:

The quality of our facility – Orthopaedic Riga took as its model the top medical facilities in Europe. There are hotel-style accommodations for inpatients that include high-speed WiFi, air conditioning, flat screen TV and accommodations for a friend or family member so that you won’t feel isolated during your stay with us.

The quality of our staff – As we outlined above our senior orthopaedic surgeons are some of the most accomplished you will find anywhere. Whether you’re having hip replacement, knee replacement or ACL surgery you are in the best of hands at Orthopaedic Riga. Our support staff are also top of the line and make it their mission to help you have the most comfortable and successful experience possible.

State of the Art Equipment and Surgical Implants – Each and every surgical theatre at Orthopaedic Riga is outfitted with state of the art equipment that allows our surgical staff to deliver the highest quality results in the least amount of time for a price that will surprise you. Every implant used on our patients is sourced from the highest quality manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson, Smith & Nephew, Zimmer, and B-Braun.

An end to waiting – In the UK you will likely have to wait many months before being able to have your joint replacement surgery. At Orthopaedic Riga we can typically arrange for surgery within 2 weeks (possibly less) of the time your documentation, health questionnaire and preliminary qualifications have been reviewed and approved.

10 year follow up – That’s right. 10 years. If you feel you need assistance or have questions our patient coordinator will be at your disposal via telephone or email at any time during the 10 year period following your surgery at Orthopaedic Riga. If you need answers or information just get in touch.

Half what you would pay in London – At Orthopaedic Riga you will get the same quality of service you would get in London (many patients say it is in fact better) at half the price you would pay for the exact same procedure in the British capital. Our orthopaedic surgery costs are as follows:

Procedure	Surgery	Implant
Hip replacement	£ 3 380	from £ 1 740
Knee replacement	£ 3 380	£ 2 480
ACL reconstruction	£ 2 380	£ 540

No language barrier – If you have ever travelled to a place like Thailand for a medical procedure you know how rare it is to find someone who actually speaks English. That is never a problem at Orthopaedic Riga. Our entire staff of surgeons, nurses and physical therapists are proficient in English.

Convenient location – Riga is a mere 2 ½ hours by air from Heathrow which means you can leave your home after breakfast and be speaking to your surgeon in person after you’ve had a light lunch in historic downtown Riga. There are a number of airlines with regular service between the UK and Riga including Ryanair, Air Baltic and more.

Full liability insurance – Orthopaedic Riga provide full surgeon’s liability insurance up to €30,000 on each of our orthopaedic surgeons.

Post-operative rehab – In the days immediately following private orthopedic surgery our rehab specialists will work with your surgeon to devise an appropriate and effective rehab program for you. If you wish you also have the option of staying at the clinic for an addition period of 1 – 3 weeks in order to take advantage of our rehab staff and facilities.

Conclusion

Orthopaedic surgeries have come a long way in the past century and today there is no reason to suffer in silence or to endure excruciating wait periods while NHS decide whether your surgical needs are legitimate. Contact Orthopaedic Riga orthopaedic surgery clinic where the future of orthopaedic surgery is here today. That’s Orthopaedic Riga, on 0207 993 8535.

Category	BMI Range
Very Obese	From 35 and Above
Obese	From 30 to 34.9
Overweight	From 25 to 29.9
Normal	From 18.5 to 24.9
Underweight	From 16 to 18.4
Very Underweight	From 15 and Below

Gastric Balloon	BMI 27+
Gastriс Sleeve	BMI 30+
Gastric Bypass	BMI 35+

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