International Medical Center Priora opened its doors two years ago in Čepin near Osijek, in the heart of the peaceful Slavonian plain. Since then, through the synergy of highly educated and experienced medical professionals, state-of-the-art medical technology, and carefully designed accommodation, it has been providing comprehensive healthcare to patients.
The hospital team includes world-renowned surgeons and physicians with long-standing international experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, urology, and robotic surgery. Advanced technology, including the latest Da Vinci and Mona Lisa robotic systems, has made this hospital widely recognized across the region.
In June 2024, the first procedures in Croatia using the Da Vinci robotic system were performed at Priora, marking an important milestone in the country’s modern medical history. Recently, the hospital also performed its first gynecological surgeries assisted by the Da Vinci system.
Recently, Priora has also opened an outpatient clinic in Zagreb
Due to growing patient demand from other parts of Croatia, Priora has expanded beyond Slavonia and opened an office in Zagreb (Savska cesta 144), where urology and orthopedics outpatient clinics operate.
Patients in Zagreb have access to comprehensive urological and orthopedic workups, as well as preoperative preparation for major procedures performed in Čepin, including Da Vinci surgeries for prostate and kidney cancer, hip, shoulder, and knee replacement surgeries, and other procedures offered by the hospital.
The Orthopedics Department is led by Dr. Ivan Karlak, a specialist in orthopedics and subspecialist in traumatology, with extensive experience in endoprosthetics, trauma surgery, and minimally invasive procedures. He is one of the leading experts in hip, knee, and shoulder joint replacements, with a focus on minimally invasive techniques and sports injuries.
Joint replacement restores quality of life
Joint replacement is no longer seen as a last resort, but as a proven solution that restores joint function and quality of life when the right time comes, explains Dr. Karlak.
The most common reason for hip or knee replacement remains advanced osteoarthritis, or joint “wear and tear.” In the hip, common indications also include femoral neck fractures in elderly patients, avascular necrosis, and deformities resulting from childhood or developmental conditions. In the knee, in addition to arthritis, long-term consequences of meniscus and ligament injuries, axis deformities (O- or X-legs), and inflammatory diseases may lead to surgery.
The primary goal of knee replacement is to enable patients to return to a normal, unrestricted life. Today, due to advances in materials, design, and especially minimally invasive techniques, postoperative pain is significantly reduced, and recovery is faster, explains Dr. Ivan Karlak.
Patients begin rehabilitation immediately after surgery, and within three to four weeks, most are fully independent and mobile, able to drive and perform daily activities. Full recovery and return to sports require several months.
An artificial joint is not a defeat, but often a return to normality, concludes Dr. Karlak.
The Orthopedics Department at IMC Priora focuses on timely diagnostics, prevention, and treatment of orthopedic conditions, intending to preserve and restore mobility and quality of life, alongside the development of a modern physiotherapy unit.
