Health professionals for Sports injuries in Prefecture of Thessaloniki

Spanos Ioannis MD, MSc is an Orthopedic Surgeon, with a particular specialization in foot and ankle pathologies, collaborating with the Agios Loukas Clinic since 2012. He has extensive experience in the management of orthopedic and sports injuries. After graduating from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, he completed his residency at the First Orthopedic Clinic of the General Hospital of Athens "Evangelismos," during which he received training in sports injuries at the Sports Injuries Clinic of KAT - General Hospital and Accident Hospital. Following the completion of his specialty, he received further specialized training in the surgical management of forefoot and hindfoot conditions (Fuß Orthopädisches KH Speising, Fusszentrum Wien) as well as in ankle arthroscopy (Orthopedic Department and Orthopedic Research Center, AMC Amsterdam). He holds a Master’s degree (MSc) in "Exercise and Health" and has participated as a speaker in international and national orthopedic conferences. His objective is to provide high-level, personalized medical services through continuous education.

Dr Koukos Xristos is an Orthopedic Surgeon who maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. He is a former Director of specialized sports injuries at St. Josef Hospital in Wuppertal, Germany. He completed his specialization and sub-specialization entirely in Germany. He undertook advanced training at world-renowned sports injury centers specializing in shoulder and elbow injuries, including: ATOS Klinik München (Prof. Martetschläger, Prof. Tauber), Klinikum Rechts der Isar (Prof. Imhoff), OCC Tübingen (Prof. Kasten), ARCUS Klinik Pforzheim (PD Dr. Burkhart), and AZ Monica Antwerp (Prof. Van Riet). In 2017, he served as Consultant at Sportklinik Duisburg, and in 2018, he was appointed Head of the arthroscopy department at the Evangelical Hospital of Mettmann (EVK Mettmann). In 2022, he assumed the position of Director at St. Josef Hospital in Wuppertal, overseeing 1,700 surgeries annually exclusively related to sports injuries of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. He is a certified trainer of the German Arthroscopic Society (AGA). Additionally, he is a member of the committees of the International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT) and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), as well as a member of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy (ESSKA - ESA) committee for shoulder and elbow. He holds international recognition in the field of shoulder and elbow, frequently presenting at international conferences and seminars, and he is one of only 3-4 surgeons worldwide performing arthroscopic reconstruction of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament. His expertise also includes multiligamentous knee injuries, beyond just the cruciate ligaments, as well as knee osteotomies aimed at avoiding arthroplasty in younger patients.

Polyzakis Nikolaos is a Physiotherapist who operates a private clinic in Thessaloniki. He studied Physiotherapy at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, from which he graduated in 1994. The combination of his theoretical training with his many years of experience enables him to effectively manage all types of cases within the scope of physiotherapy. Depending on the patients' therapeutic needs, in addition to the clinic setting, home visits are also available.

Vrakas Giorgos is a Physiotherapist who owns a private physiotherapy clinic in Evosmos, Thessaloniki. The clinic offers rehabilitation services for sports injuries, spinal decompression, cupping therapy, therapeutic massage, ultrasound, Laser, Tecar therapy, combined with muscle activation techniques and passive mobilization techniques, intramuscular stimulation (dry needling). His twenty years of experience, combined with the most modern equipment and physiotherapy methods, guarantee the full rehabilitation of all neuromuscular conditions and neurological disorders affecting the human body.

Santas Rigas MD, MSc, FASM is a Sports Medicine Specialist who has maintained a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki since 2012. He graduated from the 2nd High School of Thessaloniki and completed his medical studies abroad, obtaining his specialty certification with honors in 2012 at both domestic and international hospital institutions. Subsequently, he specialized in trauma surgery at trauma centers abroad, including Davos, Switzerland; Strasbourg, France; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He completed an arthroscopic fellowship under the auspices of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) focusing on shoulder and knee procedures. He is a certified surgeon in adult reconstructive surgery (total arthroplasties) utilizing minimally invasive techniques and robotic surgery. To date, he collaborates with the private clinics "Agios Loukas" and the Bioclinic of Thessaloniki, having performed numerous emergency and elective surgical interventions and clinically examined thousands of patients in outpatient settings, both privately insured and non-insured. He possesses particular expertise in adult reconstructive surgery, arthroscopic surgery, and orthopedic traumatology, providing specialized services employing minimally invasive techniques and biological therapies, adhering to the most advanced methods in contemporary orthopedics. Finally, Dr. Rigas is an active member of the AO Foundation – Global Trauma Society, the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy, the International Arthroscopy Society of Knee and Sports Injuries, the Arthroscopy Society of Northern Greece, and the Orthopedic Trauma Society of Macedonia-Thrace.

Tzavellas Anastasios is an Orthopedic Surgeon who maintains a private practice in the center of Thessaloniki. He collaborates with private clinics in the city to perform surgical procedures and is currently working as a Consultant in the First Orthopedic Clinic of the 424 General Military Hospital.

In 2008, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (Physician), having concurrently graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he enrolled in 2002.

In 2012, he began his specialty training at the 424 General Military Training Hospital, which he completed in 2018 at the Third University Orthopedic Clinic of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the General Hospital "Papageorgiou," receiving the title of Orthopedic Surgeon.

He completed the Master's program in "Medical Research Methodology" at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2014 – Grade: Excellent) and obtained his PhD from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2024, presenting his dissertation on the osteoinductive capacity of a novel peptide derived from Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 combined with a de novo collagen sponge as a bone graft substitute.

During the period 2021-2024, he worked in the United Kingdom, specifically at Frimley Park Hospital, as a Clinical Fellow in the Hip-Knee Surgery Department, gaining significant experience by performing and participating in a substantial number of surgical procedures (hip and knee arthroplasty, revisions, unicompartmental (partial) knee arthroplasty, arthroscopic surgery, osteotomies).

Mr. Siopis Xristos is an Orthopedic Surgeon with private practices in Thessaloniki (28 Agias Sofias, 2nd Floor) and Veria (32 El. Venizelou, 3rd Floor). He is a graduate of the Medical School of the University of Thessaly. Since 2021, he has been a Collaborating Surgeon at the A’ Orthopedic Clinic of the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki and a direct collaborator of Dr. Stylianos Kapetanakis in the Spine & Deformities Department. Simultaneously, he serves as a Collaborating Physician at the Athens Medical Center in Marousi and Psychiko. He specializes in knee and hip arthroplasties with customized implants, spinal surgery, knee and shoulder arthroscopies, as well as pediatric orthopedics. In his private practices, he provides a wide range of services tailored to the individual needs of each patient, always with respect to the patient himself.

Kazas Christos is a Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon - Traumatologist and maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. He is a graduate of the Medical School of Democritus University of Thrace based in Alexandroupoli and holds a Master's degree in "Clinical Surgical Anatomy" from the Medical School of the same institution. He completed his specialization in Orthopaedics & Traumatology at the 2nd Orthopaedic Clinic of Papageorgiou Hospital, and subsequently moved to the United Kingdom to work as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Trauma & Orthopaedics at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, BWC NHS Trust, and later at Leeds General Infirmary. Currently, in his private practice, he manages cases of Paediatric Traumatology and Paediatric Orthopaedics.

Anagnostou Antonios is an Orthopedic Surgeon who maintains a private practice in Thessaloniki. In a modern facility, easily accessible for all ages, he provides comprehensive medical services including diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative follow-up of patients. Specifically, his expertise includes total knee and hip arthroplasty, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction of the knee, reconstructive surgery, sports injuries, shoulder disorders, autologous mesotherapy, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, pediatric orthopedics, and injections. He graduated from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2009. He specialized in Greece, completing his residency at the 2nd University Clinic of the General Hospital "G. Gennimatas," where he received advanced training in both adult and pediatric orthopedics.