Cemented Bicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

My father, 76 years old, had a knee replacement - Dr Olcay Guller. The doctor is very competent, trustworthy, attentive, positive and charismatic. This is important because my father was very worried and doubtful, but after the first meeting with the doctor he was completely reassured. All pre-operative investigations were organised quickly. Preparation for the operation and the operation itself - everything went smoothly. The next morning my dad was already walking along the corridor with the help of crutches. Nurses and nurses are attentive and friendly, no remarks. Feeding was also excellent, even a lot. I was placed in a spacious ward with a large window and air conditioning. In the bathroom everything is adapted for immobile patients, spacious barrier-free shower. On the territory of the hotel there are a couple of cafes with a good menu, Starbucks. The internet in the hospital is quite good.

Strange as it may sound, my overall rating is zero. That said, I can’t say a single bad word about either the surgeon or the clinic staff. They all deserve top marks. The doctor was very attentive and professional, and the support team did everything they could to help. The problem isn’t with the people. The problem is that the outcome of the consultation and what followed completely overshadowed all the positive impressions, leaving me in a very difficult situation during the recovery phase. The service was good, but the result was not.

Before the operation, I was most worried about a possible difference in leg length, but now they feel exactly the same. The operation was performed via an anterior approach using a Stryker implant. A huge thank you to the wonderful doctor, Professor Olcay Güler. He is always positive, a pleasure to talk to, and uses modern techniques as well as robotic surgery for procedures like this. Direct anterior access is the best option for those who want a faster and better recovery, and there are very few specialists who use this modern method. On the 7th day after the operation, I had already started walking without crutches, even though I hadn’t rushed my recovery; the doctors do recommend walking with crutches for two weeks. Thanks to the successful operation, I started walking without a limp almost as soon as I tried doing so without crutches. I should note that I deliberately didn’t walk with just one crutch; I used both, but walked with them using the Nordic walking technique with poles. I think this also helped me avoid limping straight away. If anyone needs joint replacement surgery, I highly recommend Professor Olcay Güler and the Memorial Şişli Clinic; a good doctor is the key to a successful return to normal life. And of course, a huge thank you to the Bookimed team and personally to coordinator Sergey, who patiently selected the clinic and doctor for me! In the early stages of recovery, the hardest thing for me is getting in and out of the car. A tip for future patients: prepare comfortable trousers without elastic at the bottom in advance, slip-on shoes, and a special device for putting on compression garments and socks – a butler or glider – will also come in very handy, but only if you’re doing everything without assistance.

If a friend asked about robotic knee replacement, I'd start with this: understand your whole body's situation first. For me, I’ve realized I need both hips revision, not just the knee, and that has a big impact on my overall progress. The clinic facilities and the general staff were solid. They were helpful. My main challenge is currently my walking distance. While the staff were supportive, my interactions with the surgeon felt a bit lacking, and I think that aspect could have been better. It’s a serious process with many moving parts to consider.