Assoc. Prof. Kayahan Karaytuğ, MD

Assoc. Prof. Kayahan Karaytuğ, MD is an orthopedic surgery and traumatology specialist at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in İstanbul, where he practices within the Orthopedics & Joint Center. His clinical work concentrates on foot and ankle surgery and on hip and knee replacement surgery, and he has more than 17 years of experience in medicine.

Dr. Karaytuğ graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2009 and completed his specialty training at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine in 2015. His professional experience includes Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2014 and, from 2015 to 2017, the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Kars Sarıkamış State Hospital, where he also chaired the hospital’s Revolving Fund Commission and TİG Commission between 2016 and 2017. He is a member of the Turkish Orthopedics and Traumatology Association and the Turkish Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Association. His published work includes a study of the long-term results of in-situ pinning for femoral head slippage, a report on early functional results of combined surgical techniques in painful heel syndrome, a case report on ochronotic arthropathy, and an experimental animal study on fracture healing when an implant is retained in the presence of infection.

Clinical focus

A substantial part of Dr. Karaytuğ’s practice involves joint diseases, in particular osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Where conservative measures are no longer sufficient, he evaluates patients for hip replacement surgery and knee replacement surgery. The decision to operate is made individually, taking into account the patient’s symptoms, imaging findings, mobility and general health.

His second main area is foot and ankle surgery. This includes diabetic foot surgery and Charcot foot surgery, conditions in which structural changes and impaired healing require careful planning, as well as deformity correction surgery. Dr. Karaytuğ also treats hand and wrist injuries, including hand and wrist fractures, ligament injuries, and tendon and nerve injuries.

How Dr. Karaytuğ works with international patients

Dr. Karaytuğ consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a 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, arranges appointments and organizes 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 options. Video consultations are available for international patients who wish to discuss their case before deciding whether to travel; in orthopedic conditions, a final treatment recommendation may still depend on an in-person examination and up-to-date imaging.