Göker Utku Değer, MD

Göker Utku Değer, MD is an orthopedic surgery and traumatology specialist at Acibadem Taksim Hospital in İstanbul, where he works within the Orthopedics & Joint Center. His practice covers foot and ankle surgery, hip and knee replacement surgery, and shoulder and elbow surgery, together with the treatment of sports injuries and trauma. He has been in medicine for more than 11 years.

Dr. Değer graduated from Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine in 2015 and worked as a general practitioner in the Dr. Ersin Arslan State Hospital Emergency Department in Gaziantep from 2015 to 2016. He completed his specialty training in Orthopedics and Traumatology at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2022. His professional experience also includes a position at Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2019 and posts as a specialist physician at Bingöl State Hospital in Bingöl (2022–2023) and Beykoz State Hospital in İstanbul (2023). He is a member of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the Turkish Orthopedics and Traumatology Association (TOTBİD), the Turkish Orthopedics and Traumatology Association (TOTDER), and the Turkish Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Association (TODCD). He has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on subjects including proximal humerus fractures, acromiohumeral distance measurement on radiographs, surgical approaches in primary total knee arthroplasty, and orthopedic trauma practice during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical focus

Dr. Değer’s areas of expertise include osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint conditions, for which options may range from non-surgical management to joint replacement. He performs hip replacement surgery and knee replacement surgery, and treats knee injuries such as cruciate ligament tears and meniscus tears. His practice also covers muscle tear treatment and the broader assessment and treatment of sports injuries.

In foot and ankle surgery and in shoulder and elbow surgery, Dr. Değer evaluates both injury-related and degenerative problems. He also has an interest in minimally invasive trauma surgery, in which fractures and related injuries are treated through smaller approaches where this is considered appropriate for the individual patient. Whether a surgical or non-surgical approach is suitable depends on the findings of the clinical examination and imaging, the patient’s general health, and the patient’s own goals, all of which are discussed before any decision is made.

How Dr. Değer works with international patients

Dr. Değer consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before the visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the possible options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation with Dr. Değer before travelling, although a final treatment plan usually requires an in-person examination and, where needed, up-to-date imaging.