Stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury in IRCCS OSPEDALE GALEAZZI - SANT'AMBROGIO

This clinic works on the premises of Gruppo San Donato, the first healthcare network in Italy. San Donato Medical Group includes 18 hospitals and 3 research centers.

Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant’Ambrogio (OGSA) is considered a Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS). With this rank, the Italian government entitles institutions to conduct scientific studies and develop new treatments and techniques.

Leading specialties:

• Joint surgery
• Spine examination
• Spine surgery
• Maxillofacial (orthognathic) surgery
• Orthopedic rehabilitation
• Stem cell therapy
• Cardiac surgery
• Bariatric surgery

 

BENEFITS OF OSPEDALE GALEAZZI - SANT’AMBROGIO 

• The highest success rates in Italy

According to the Galeazzi data, 91% of orthopedic surgeries are successful. It is the most significant index in the country.

• Top doctors

Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio (OGSA) employs the leading Italian specialists. They have over 15 years of experience and have published more than 100 scientific papers.

• Revolutionary methods and equipment

Galeazzi orthopedists provide innovative technologies such as EOS (a new technique for spine screening) and stem cell therapy (a non-surgical treatment with cell injections for joints, tendons, muscles, and bones).

JOINT SURGERY IN OSPEDALE GALEAZZI - SANT’AMBROGIO 

Joint replacement is the most popular procedure performed in OGSA. Knee, hip, and shoulder joint replacements are among the most frequent operations.

OGSA also offers minimally invasive and arthroscopic surgeries of the shoulder, knee, elbow, ankle, wrist, and foot.

Since the hospital's establishment, orthopedists have performed 13,000 joint replacement procedures.

Doctors perform high-quality, minimally invasive orthopedic surgery. The patient's joint quickly restores and completely reactivates 2-3 weeks after the replacement.

Hip surgery

About 550 patients come to Galeazzi each year to treat hip diseases. Orthopedists perform over 350 hip replacement procedures annually.

75% of patients who visit Italy for hip revision choose OGSA. According to the hospital's data, specialists carry out over 400 reconstructive and revision hip surgeries each year.

Knee surgery

Ospedale Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio is Italy's No.1 medical facility for knee replacements, with 300 procedures performed annually.

Orthopedists perform knee replacement using PSI (Patient Specific Instrumentation), an innovative technology for joint prosthetics. PSI is a computed-assisted method that aims to facilitate knee prosthesis implantation.

Specialists develop a treatment plan for a patient using a CT scan and PSI. This approach increases the accuracy of knee replacement by several times.

Shoulder surgery

Surgeons perform arthroscopic operations (through small incisions) to treat degenerative shoulder diseases and traumas. They also perform reconstructive and open surgeries to help patients with severe shoulder conditions.

Every year, 1,000 outpatients with shoulder problems visit OGSA for treatment. 560 of them undergo surgery.

SPINE EXAMINATION

OGSA applies a unique 3-dimensional orthopedic visualization called EOS.

EOS is an innovative radiographic equipment that provides images with a much lower radiation dose than traditional X-rays.

This method allows the creation of 3D images without any deficiencies, which helps an orthopedic surgeon determine the disease stage and choose the most appropriate therapy.

Why is EOS better than X-Ray?

1. EOS is faster — it takes a photo for 20 seconds.
2. EOS produces a lower radiation dose — patients may undergo up to 120 daily examinations without harm.
3. EOS creates a high-quality image — over 65,000 colors for precise diagnostics.
4. EOS has no contraindications — patients with disabilities may undergo this screening.

SPINE SURGERY 

OGSA spine surgeons focus on treating degenerative spine diseases and deformities. They prefer minimally invasive and reconstructive methods. 

Orthopedists perform over 1,300 spinal fusion surgeries annually. During the operation, a doctor permanently connects 2 or more vertebrae in the spine, eliminating motion between them.

OGSA doctors use XLIF, ALIF, PLIF, and TLIF surgical methods. They perform this surgery to reduce the back pain caused by a degenerative disease.

XLIF surgery is minimally invasive. During the operation, surgeons make an incision on the patient's side. This helps to skip major back muscles and keep them undamaged.

Patients with benign and malignant spine tumors choose OGSA because it has the highest success rate in Italy. Over 400 tumor removals are performed at the center every year.

MAXILLOFACIAL (ORTHOGNATHIC) SURGERY

Maxillofacial and oral surgeons perform over 400 operations in OGSA annually.

The Maxillofacial Surgery Department specializes in:

• reconstructive surgery for the upper jaw bone loss;
• surgical therapy of craniofacial anomalies;
• correction of the dental occlusion and lower jaw deformation;
• post-traumatic reconstruction of the jaws;
• salivary gland removal;
• thyroid gland removal;
• maxillary neoplasms removal.

ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION 

Orthopedists provide shockwave therapy as one of the most effective methods of physiotherapy.

A doctor performs a shockwave session under ultrasound guidance to observe pain zones. A patient undergoes a cycle of 3 courses each week. One session takes 6-9 minutes, depending on the affected area's size and energy density.

Shockwave therapy reduces pain and local inflammatory foci. After the treatment, a patient may notice some side effects (hematomas, acute pain).

Shockwave physiotherapy shows a 60-90% success rate depending on the patient's pathology and medical history.

STEM CELL THERAPY

RE.GA.IN (Regenerative Galeazzi Institute) operates on the Institute's premises. Specialists provide stem cell therapy for joint, ligament, tendon, and bone diseases.

According to OGSA data, 90% of patients are satisfied with stem cell therapy results. Doctors use stem cells or their derivatives to repair damaged cells and treat orthopedic injuries.

RE.GA.IN is among a few European medical facilities with government permission to apply stem cells for treatments.

Privacy is an essential factor in why patients prefer OGSA for treatment with stem cells. The Institute carries out this innovative therapeutic method under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU law protecting patients' data and privacy).

40 regenerative specialists develop new stem cell therapeutic approaches and implement them to help people eliminate orthopedic disorders and injuries.

SERVICES FOR PATIENTS 

• Accommodation

During treatment in the clinic, patients live in a room that suits their preference: a standard, deluxe, or family room.

• Transfer

OGSA provides a transfer from the airport for an additional fee.

• Interpreter

OGSA provides patients with language assistance for an additional fee.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 

• IRCCS accreditation

The IRCCS (Scientific Institute of Research and Health) certificate authorizes research, development, and the use of new treatments.

• UNI EN ISO 9001 certificate

OGSA has an ISO certificate of quality. Certification confirms that doctors use the materials and equipment according to international standards.

• SSN accreditation

OGSA is accredited by the National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN). It ensures that Galeazzi orthopedists have permission to perform clinical studies.