Reference & Training Centre for the ASI Method
Orthopedic Surgeon in Athens Get your life back, with confident steps
Dr. Ioannis Tsarouhas, a pioneer of the ASI method, has many years of experience and specialises in providing innovative and effective solutions for orthopedic problems, always with an emphasis on the safety of his patients.
Dr. Ioannis Tsarouhas, Orthopedic Surgeon · Director of the Major Joints Clinic, Athens Medical Center
- Director of the Major Joints Clinic, Athens Medical Center
- 3,000+ hip replacements with the ASI method
- ASI reference & training centre (Zimmer Biomet), the only one in Greece
- Clinics in Athens, Petroupoli, Chania & Heraklion
Expertise
Surgical Techniques for the Hip & Knee
Minimally invasive techniques and fast-track recovery protocols: less pain, faster mobilisation, a safe return to everyday life.
Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement with the ASI method, without cutting muscles or tendons. A small 5–6 cm incision at the front of the hip and walking from the first day.
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Knee Replacement
Replacement of the worn joint surfaces of the knee. The aim is better movement and less pain, with ROSA® robotic assistance where indicated.
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Knee Arthroscopy
A minimally invasive technique for meniscus tears, cruciate ligament tears and cartilage lesions. Small incisions, a high-definition camera, very fast recovery.
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Revision Hip Replacement
Replacement of the old prosthesis because of loosening, infection or fracture. A major operation that demands considerable experience, performed with the minimally invasive philosophy of ASI.
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ASI Method: Minimally Invasive Total Hip Replacement
The ASI method (Anterior Supine Intermuscular) is a minimally invasive technique for total hip replacement. It is performed with the patient lying supine, through a limited anterior approach (direct anterior approach), that is, with a small incision, without cutting muscles or tendons and without applying external traction to the leg. The operation takes 45 to 60 minutes.
- Precise control of leg length during the operation, so that the risk of leg length discrepancy is ruled out.
- Intraoperative testing of hip stability, so that the risk of later dislocation is eliminated.
- X-ray control during the operation for optimal placement of the implants.
- No physiotherapy is needed after surgery: walking from the first day with full weight-bearing, where bone quality allows.
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Small incision (5–6 cm)
A small incision is made at the front of the hip without cutting the muscles and tendons of the area.
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Ideal for overweight patients
Unlike the other, conventional methods, ASI does not require the patient to try to lose weight before surgery.
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Fewer complications
The ASI method is also used with great success in revision total hip replacement.
Reference and Training Centre for the ASI Method
The Major Joints Clinic at the Athens Medical Center, directed by Dr. Ioannis Tsarouhas, was selected by Zimmer Biomet as the only reference centre in Greece, and one of the few in Europe, for training in the ASI technique, after completing 3,000 hip replacements with this method.
Conditions
Orthopedic Conditions by joint
Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and modern treatment options for conditions of the hip, knee, shoulder, hand and foot.
- 3,000+ hip replacements with ASI
- 50+ orthopedic surgeons trained in ASI
- 4 clinics in Athens & Crete
- 1999 Doctorate, University of Athens
The Doctor
Dr. Ioannis Tsarouhas
Orthopedic Surgeon – Director of the Major Joints Clinic, Athens Medical Group
He completed his specialty training in Orthopedics at the University Clinic of KAT Hospital and was awarded his doctorate by the University of Athens in 1999. From 1999 to 2013 he worked at the Henry Dunant Hospital, where he served as Director of the 1st Orthopedic Department. Today he works at the Athens Medical Center as Director of the Major Joints Orthopedic Clinic.
He treats the full range of orthopedic cases and sports injuries, specialising in osteoarthritis of the knee and hip and in revision of knee and hip replacements.
- Total hip and knee replacement with minimally invasive methods (ASI, MIS)
- Revision of total hip and knee replacements
- Lead instructor of Greek and foreign orthopedic surgeons in the ASI method
- Publications in international scientific journals and presentations at Greek and international congresses
Your journey
From the first appointment to getting back to everyday life
Major joint surgery is not the work of one person. The result comes from the coordination of a team that works to the same protocols at every stage.
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01
First visit & planning
A detailed history, a full clinical examination and a review of your imaging. All the options are discussed, conservative and surgical, with realistic recovery timelines. Not every patient needs surgery.
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02
In the operating theatre
The same team of surgeons, anaesthetists and scrub nurses works together on every case. Fast-track recovery protocols are applied: multimodal analgesia, and no drains or urinary catheters where they are not needed.
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03
Mobilisation on the same day
Mobilisation begins on the day of surgery, with a physiotherapist at the patient’s side. Written instructions are given before discharge, and follow-up continues with scheduled visits and X-ray checks.
Reviews
What our patients say
Videos
Dr. Tsarouhas on television
Interviews and television appearances on the ASI method and minimally invasive hip and knee techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Answers before your appointment
The questions patients ask us most often about the ASI method, recovery and the appointment.
Have another question? Call us
210 6464 744When can I walk after hip replacement with the ASI method?
No physiotherapy is needed after surgery. Patients who are in good general condition and have good bone quality can walk from the first day with full weight-bearing on the operated leg. Other patients walk with gradually increasing weight-bearing and, after one month, manage to walk without an aid.
Is the ASI method suitable for overweight patients?
The technique is suitable for every body type. Increased body weight plays no role, because the site of the incision naturally has very little subcutaneous fat. Unlike the other, conventional methods, ASI does not require the patient to try to lose weight before surgery.
Is there a risk of leg length discrepancy or dislocation?
The ASI method allows precise control of leg length during the operation, so that the risk of leg length discrepancy is ruled out. It also allows hip stability to be tested intraoperatively, so that the risk of later dislocation is eliminated, while the use of X-ray control ensures optimal placement of the implants.
How much does a hip or knee replacement cost?
There is no single price: the final cost is shaped by the type of operation, the implants, the technology, the hospital and the hospital stay, the medical team and the pre- and post-operative work-up. An exact price is given only after a clinical examination and a review of your imaging. Send us your X-rays or MRI and your insurance status and you will receive a written, detailed estimate.
How do I book an appointment and what should I bring?
By filling in the contact form or by phone. Tell us the location that suits you (Athens, Petroupoli, Chania or Heraklion, Crete) and give a short description of the problem. It is helpful to bring previous examinations and medical opinions, a list of your medication, the history of previous operations on the same joint and, if there is one, the operative note with the details of the implants that were used.
I live outside Athens or abroad. Can I have a first assessment remotely?
If you cannot come in person straight away, you can send your imaging (X-rays, MRI or CT) electronically, together with a short history. You will receive a first assessment of whether surgery is needed, what the alternatives are and what recovery involves, so that you can organise your trip once and properly.
Contact
Book an appointment with Dr. Tsarouhas
Fill in the form with the time that suits you and we will contact you to arrange an appointment, or call us directly.
Call us 210 6464 744-
Petroupoli 1 Agias Triados St., 132 31 210 5011 717
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Heraklion, Crete 49 Kyrillou Loukareos St., 712 01
Appointment request
We reply to every request on the same or the next working day.
Your details are used solely to contact you.
A second opinion before surgery
Send us your imaging and your medical history and receive a clear answer on whether surgery is needed and what the alternatives are.
Request a second opinion