Orthopedics in Ankara

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals with the conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, including the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. A doctor who specializes in orthopedics is called an orthopedist. The musculoskeletal conditions that orthopedists can treat may be present from birth or occur as a result of injury or age-related wear and tear. Some of the most common conditions that an orthopedist can treat are as follows:

• Bone fractures
• Joint pain from arthritis
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Soft tissue, including muscles, ligament, and tendon, injuries
• Shoulder pain and problems, such as bursitis
• Worn out and sports injuries, such as meniscus tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, and tendinitis
• Congenital conditions, such as scoliosis and clubfoot.

Orthopedists can conduct diagnostic tests, including physical examinations and X-rays. They use both surgical and nonsurgical approaches to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal issues. The procedures performed by orthopedists include, but are not limited to:

• Total joint replacement
• Knee ligament surgery, including knee arthroscopy
• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Carpal tunnel release
• Fracture repair surgery
• Spinal fusion
• Hip replacement
• LaminectomyFracture repair surgery, including repair of the ankle, the femoral neck, and trochanteric fracture
• Bone grafting surgery
• Osteotomy
• Herniated disk surgery
• Debridement of muscle, bone, or fracture.

How Long Should I Stay in Ankara?

Depending on the condition for which you were treated and the type of treatment you underwent, you may be able to leave the hospital the same day or the day after surgery. In general, you should wait at least 4 to 7 days before you travel home for most surgeries. This is because surgery can affect your ability to tolerate turbulence. After total hip replacement, it is recommended that you take it very easy for around 3 months to minimize the risk of hip dislocation. During your stay in Ankara you will need to attend several follow-up checkups where your orthopedist will monitor your healing and remove any stitches (if necessary). 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Several factors determine your recovery period, including your overall health, the reason you needed an orthopedic treatment, and the type of treatment you had. Your orthopedist will give you a detailed post-operative plan, including when you can go back to your normal routine and work. The recovery period takes approximately 2 weeks to 3 months.

What Aftercare is Required?

Make sure to follow your orthopedist direction after treatment. In most cases, you will need to attend rehabilitation, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy, which you can do at a facility in your home country or have home visits from a physical therapist. The goal of physical therapy is to increase your range of motion, improve function, and to regain your strength and ability. 

What's the Success Rate?

The advancement of orthopedics and a deeper understanding of the musculoskeletal system have made orthopedic treatments safer and highly successful. For example, over 95% of patients who had total hip replacement experience relief from hip pain. However, while orthopedics surgery generally does not cause major risks, you still need to be aware that complications can occur, such as infections, blood clots, blood vessel damage, bone fracture, and joint stiffness. 

Are there Alternatives?

There is typically no other alternatives than seeing an orthopedist if you experience any problems in your bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. However, depending on your condition, you may be able to undergo acupuncture, home exercise programs, and other alternative treatments.

Orthopedics in and around Ankara

About Ankara

Turkey’s capital Ankara is the second-largest city in the country and has a rich cultural heritage and serves a prominent place in history.

Ankara is a prominent industrial hub of Turkey with many manufacturing plants catering to food, beverage, and the construction of raw materials, etc. Medical tourism is also a major source of revenue for Turkey as it tops the list among the seven countries famous for thermal springs. The Medical Tourist industry in Turkey is growing 10%-15% each year and 2018 saw close to 1 million tourists who visited the country for medical treatments.

While patients from all over the world visit Ankara for medical procedures, most of them are from Libya, Germany, UK, and UAE. The big reason behind this was due to the fact that the treatments and surgical procedures in Turkey are nearly 40% cheaper than in most other European nations. There are world-class hospitals catering to a wide range of medical procedures. The city being a hot tourist destination, many patients enjoy exploring the city while getting treated. Some of the popular hospitals and Clinics frequented by tourists in Ankara include:

• Sanatoryum Hastahanesi
• Ankara University Cebeci Hospital
• SALUSS Medical Center

In addition to the aforementioned services, the recently inaugurated Ankara Bilkent City Hospital that began operations in March 2019, holds the distinction of being the biggest hospital in the country. It boasts a stupendous capacity, housing a total of 3,704 hospital beds.

Popular Areas in Ankara

The Central Anatolia Region is known to host some of the most prolific wine production establishments in the city.

Notably, the well-known Turkish Aerospace Industries, Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayii A.Ş., is based in Ankara's Sincan district. This area is predominately inhabited by Turkish residents.

Ankara is an important city where most of the significant Government related activities are carried out and has become a prominent place for bureaucrats and officials. Çankaya District houses most of the Government buildings and is also one of the most popular residential neighborhoods in Turkey.

Another key urban area in Ankara is Yenimahalle. This district is renowned for the recently popularized Wonderland Eurasia theme park. In merely the first week following its grand opening, the park was thronged by nearly one million eager visitors.

Weather and Climate in Ankara

Ankara is known for its Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers making up the city's weather pattern. Contrastingly, winter seasons can be quite chilly, with the lowest yearly temperature recorded around a frigid -24.9°C. If your timing is lucky, you might even get to revel in a bit of gentle snowfall during the winter months. Namely, back in 2018, the city appreciated snowfall commencing in mid-December, signaling a winter season that was relatively warmer than those of preceding years.

June to August is an ideal time to visit Ankara. After the heat of the summer settles down, these months stay warm and dry. March to May is the next most preferred time for tourists. It is best to avoid the months of December and January, as the city can get unpredictably cold. It receives a good amount of rainfall after the winter between January and March. Hence, if you are visiting Ankara for skiing, then it is wise to reschedule your travel to early January.

Getting around in Ankara

Tourists from all over the world can reach Ankara through its Esenboğa International Airport. The primary airlines serving most of the popular global destinations are:

• Anadolu Jet
• Pegasus Airlines
• SunExpress
• Turkish Airlines

Besides this international airport, it also has the Etimesgut Air Base, the Akıncı Air Base, and the Güvercinlik Army Air Bases.

Visitors can easily navigate through the city courtesy of the efficiently networked metro rail and local bus services. The management and regulation of the railway and bus facilities are efficiently handled by Ankara Electricity and Gas Operations Business.

Ankara Central Railways Station provides connectivity to all primary points within the city. Opting for a taxi from the airport to the city center is also a reasonable choice, with fares approximated around $15. Plus, the overall taxi charges within the city are perceived to be quite fair.

Tourist Visas in Ankara

Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey: The Electronic Visa Application System of the Republic of Turkey (e-Visa) is a system that allows citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa to Turkey online. To apply for an e-Visa, you must visit the government website of the e-Visa system. You can check the list of eligible countries on the website.

Visa on arrival: Citizens of certain countries, including Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Kenya, can choose to obtain a visa on arrival in Turkey. However, it is important to note that visa on arrival is not guaranteed, and you may be denied entry if you do not meet all of the requirements.

Visa requirements for citizens of India, China, Russia, and other countries: Citizens of India, China, Russia, and a few other countries must apply for a visa in advance before traveling to Turkey. Visas can be obtained online or at a Turkish embassy or consulate.

Additional Information

• The local currency of Ankara is Turkish Lira. The value of 1 Turkish Lira is equivalent to 0.17 USD.
• Most of the tourist spots in the city accept payments made with credit and debit cards. You can also make use of international money transfer systems. On Municipal buses and metros, you can pay with magnetic cards available at kiosks. However, it is advisable to carry cash to pay at the local buses. Most taxi drivers accept payment in local currencies only.
• ​​​​​​​The tourism police division in Ankara Police Department consists of staff who can speak multiple languages including English, French, Arabic, and Russian. Most of the younger generation and some taxi drivers also understand English. Yet not many might be able to communicate in English though.
• ​​​​​​​If you would like to enjoy the rich culture of the city, then check out the Ankara Opera House. It is popular for ballet performances and theatres. The city has a strong emphasis on arts and music.
• ​​​​​​​Kocatepe Camii is a popular destination for tourists. It is the largest Mosque in Ankara. The Mosque was built in an Ottoman architecture style, for this reason, it resembles the Mosques built in the Ottoman era, such as the famous Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also called the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul.
• ​​​​​​​The major public holidays of Ankara are the New Year’s on January 1, Labor Day on May 1, and Republic Day on October 29. So, plan your visit keeping these National holidays in mind.