Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara

Orthopedic and Traumatology Specialist – Joint Preservation and Sports Injuries

Orthopedics has been part of Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara’s work since he entered specialist training in 2013. A young athlete is different from an arthritic knee that has been painful for ten years. A fracture needs another kind of decision again.

This is why treatment does not begin with one fixed method.

Sometimes an operation is necessary. Sometimes it is too early. And sometimes the main task is to prevent a joint problem from becoming worse.

Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara was born in Ankara in 1988. He graduated from Gazi University Faculty of Medicine in 2012 and passed the Turkish medical specialization examination one year later. He then completed his specialist training in orthopedics and traumatology at Ufuk University.

Clinical Practice of Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara

Most patients come because movement has become difficult.

There may be pain while walking. Swelling after sport. A knee that no longer feels stable. Others have already tried medication, physiotherapy or injections without getting the result they expected.

Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara works mainly with conditions affecting the knee, hip, shoulder and ankle. His clinical interests include sports injuries, cartilage damage, meniscus tears, ligament injuries, osteoarthritis and other problems that gradually reduce joint function. Knee and hip replacement surgery are also part of his practice when the damage is too advanced for joint-preserving treatment. The diagnosis matters here. So does the stage of the condition.

A meniscus finding on an MRI does not automatically mean surgery. Joint pain is not always caused by the most visible change in an image. Age, activity level, previous injuries and the patient’s daily needs all affect the decision.

The aim is not simply to treat an X-ray or MRI report. It is to understand why the patient cannot move as before.

Training and International Experience of Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara

After completing his specialist training, Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara continued part of his professional education abroad.

In 2019, he worked at the ISAKOS-accredited Artroscopia G.C. unit at Hospital Quirónsalud in Barcelona. There, he had the opportunity to work with sports surgeon Dr. Ramon Cugat. The experience was particularly relevant to arthroscopic surgery, sports traumatology and treatments intended to preserve the patient’s own joint for as long as reasonably possible. This was not separate from his general orthopedic work.

Sports injuries often involve more than one structure. A damaged ligament may be accompanied by cartilage injury. A shoulder problem may continue because strength and movement have not recovered properly. The operation itself, when needed, is only one part of the process.

Rehabilitation and return to activity must also be planned.

Professional Experience of Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara

Between 2019 and 2022, Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara worked in Van.

He first completed his compulsory public service at Muradiye State Hospital. He later continued working at Van Private Akdamar Hospital as an orthopedic and traumatology specialist. During this period, he also took on responsibility as Deputy Chief Physician and was involved in both clinical and administrative responsibilities.

In a busy orthopedic department, cases do not arrive in a predictable order. Fractures, long-standing joint disease, sports injuries and patients requiring surgery may all need to be assessed on the same day. Decisions have to be made with the resources and circumstances available.

His current clinical work is based in Istanbul. He sees patients in private practice, and Academic Hospital also lists him as a surgeon working in orthopedics and traumatology.

Joint Preservation and Regenerative Orthopedics

Not every painful joint should be replaced.

For Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara, joint preservation means looking at what can still be protected before moving toward major surgery. This may involve changes in physical activity, a structured exercise and rehabilitation programme, weight and load management, medication or selected injection treatments.

In appropriate cases, biological and regenerative options may also be discussed. These include PRP or PRGF, bone marrow- or adipose-derived stem cell preparations, hyaluronic acid, Sanakin and exosome-based applications. Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara presents these as supportive options for selected patients with cartilage damage, joint degeneration, tendon problems or other musculoskeletal conditions. These treatments are not suitable for everyone.

A biological treatment cannot rebuild every severely damaged joint. It cannot correct every mechanical problem. The condition of the cartilage, joint alignment, age, general health and previous treatments must be considered first.

The important questions are usually simple:
What is actually causing the pain?
How advanced is the damage?
Can the joint still be preserved?

Sports Injuries and Arthroscopic Surgery

Sports injuries are another central part of Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara’s practice.

These include meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament injuries, ankle injuries, shoulder problems, patellofemoral pain and tendinitis. Some injuries occur suddenly. Others develop slowly after repeated strain, poor movement patterns or an incomplete recovery from an earlier problem. Returning to sport is not only about waiting until the pain has stopped.

The injured structure must be stable enough. Strength and coordination need to return. The patient also needs to understand why the injury happened and what may reduce the risk of it happening again.

The decision is still based on the injury itself. Not on the availability of a technique.

Professional Recognition, Medical Education and Patient Information

In 2018, Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara received first prize for a poster presentation at the 28th National Turkish Orthopaedics and Traumatology Congress.

Medical education is also part of his work. He contributes to continuing education for physicians and takes part in professional training seminars as a guest speaker.

He also shares information for patients. The purpose is not to encourage patients to diagnose themselves. It is to help them understand when pain may settle with simple measures and when a proper orthopedic assessment makes sense.
Medical terms can sometimes sound more dramatic than the actual situation. The opposite can also happen. A problem that seems minor may continue to damage a joint when it is ignored for too long.
Clear information helps with both.

Working with Patients

People do not arrive at an orthopedic clinic with the same expectations.
Some want to return to competitive sport. Some only want to walk without pain. Others are trying to avoid an operation for as long as possible.
These goals matter.

Op. Dr. Ahmet Hakan Kara evaluates the medical findings together with the patient’s age, occupation, activity level and daily limitations. Surgical and non-surgical options are discussed according to the actual condition of the joint.
There is no reason to rush into an operation that is not yet needed. There is also little benefit in repeatedly delaying surgery when the joint is badly damaged and conservative treatment is no longer helping.

The difficult part is often knowing where that point is.
Examination, imaging and medical history provide part of the answer. The rest comes from an honest discussion about recovery, limitations and what the patient expects from treatment.