CREMONA – Eleven specialists (and two interns) to treat all segments of the body. The Orthopedics and Traumatology of Cremona can count on a young and trained team. The experience gained in the field and continuous training are the distinctive elements of the group led by Erika Maria Violawhich carries out over 1200 interventions every year, of which 25 percent are emergencies.
«The orthopedist is part doctor and part engineer» explains Viola. «Understanding how to help a patient is a different challenge for each case, especially when intervening on polytraumatized patients. The planning that precedes the intervention is the most important part of the work, to identify the ideal system and the way in which to create it”. Teamwork is fundamental: «Being surrounded by young professionals is very motivating – continues Viola – Collaboration and the exchange of knowledge allows us to work effectively and grow together, in a positive and stimulating professional climate». The skills acquired by the group include qualification ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) to better manage emergency and emergency activities in synergy with the other teams of the Emergency-Urgency department (directed by Enrico Storti).
The training activity extends on a national scale: «In addition to participating in courses and conferences – adds Viola, Cremona Orthopedics is included in the program “surgeon to surgeon”, which allows specialists from different centers to participate or assist in hyper-specialist interventions, working with colleagues from all over Italy. It is an opportunity to grow and develop, through a comparison between peers to observe innovative techniques and procedures, as well as offer support and advice on the most particular cases”.
SHOULDER, ELBOW WRIST: ARTHROSCOPY AND OTHER THERAPEUTIC NEWS
Director of Cremona Orthopedics since 2019, Erika Maria Viola (57 years old) graduated and specialized at the University of Parma. «I have always dealt with pathology of the shoulder, my first choice – she says – then I became passionate about traumatology, which had an important evolution in the 2000s, with important results in terms of restoring performance and quality of life. «In Cremona I found a hospital full of motivated people. Working with a young team brings energy and constant growth: all the specialists travel abroad to update themselves and then share the latest therapeutic innovations with their colleagues. Finding the best solution is a great satisfaction, like seeing a patient who, after the care received, recovers autonomy and can take back control of his life.”
Erika Maria Viola
Pier Giulio Valenti (32 years old) completed his training at the University of Parma and has been joining the Cremona Orthopedics team for eight months. What brought him here was «the good reputation of the center and the excellent opportunities for professional growth in a young, heterogeneous and collaborative team». Hyperspecialized in surgery shoulder, uses both traditional and arthroscopic techniques, both in the orthopedic and traumatology fields. Certainly more complex, but challenging.”
Pier Giulio Valenti
Graduated and specialized at the University of Parma, Cristina Galavotti (36 years old) has been working in Cremona since 2019. «I specialize in surgery elbow and of shoulder, in-depth selection with experience in Italy and abroad. She specializes in elbow arthroscopy and management of biceps rupture with minimally invasive techniques. She is a speaker and moderator at conferences and training courses, in addition to teaching on contract for the Physiotherapy course at the University of Brescia.
Cristina Gavalotti
Graduated from the Sapienza University of Rome and specialized at the University of Ferrara, Emanuele Gerace (35 years old) has been working in Cremona for four years, where he deals with upper limb surgery and specifically the wrist and of hand. «It is the most complex area – he states – to treat it it is not enough to be an orthopaedist, you need skills in plastic surgery and microsurgery, to intervene in a minimally invasive way on delicate structures and preserve the functionality of the limb».
Emanuele Gerace
SPINE, HIP AND KNEE: APPLY THE BEST TECHNIQUES
Originally from Sassari – where he is completing his training course – Alessandro Arbau (34 years old) is specializing in Cremona. «After attending a traumatology course held by Dr. Viola, I asked for the possibility of joining the team for a six-month training course». In the future she would like to dedicate herself to spinal surgeryhis passion: “Here I had the opportunity to test myself, practical experience is fundamental, whatever branch you choose.”
Alessandro Arbau
Graduated from the University of Palermo and specialized in VeronaChiara Comandé (42 years old) has been working in Cremona for eleven years and specializes in hip surgery and traumatology. «Initially I wanted to do gastroenterology, then during my studies I moved towards orthopaedics. In Cremona I found a very competent team, which convinced me to stay. Here I was able to learn a lot and grow professionally. There is always something to learn.”
Chiara Comandé
Andrea Leorati, (52 years old), has been working in Cremona for about two years. After training at the University of Milan, he began as a sports traumatologist and then moved on to spinal surgery.hip. Abroad he delves into prosthetics with minimally invasive access, which preserves muscles and tendons. “The idea of rehabilitating a patient, often an elderly one, restoring autonomy is a great satisfaction.”
Andrea Leorati
Mirko Toso (47 years old) deals with spinal surgeryhip and lower limb traumatology. «A branch that requires a lot of training and updating to maximize results and overcome limitations». Having been in Cremona for four years, he believes that experience and training must go hand in hand: «Working on a wide variety of cases with young colleagues brings richness to the working group, as does comparison with other structures, to share procedures and work better ».
Mirko Toso
Graduated in Brescia and specialized in Rome Tor Vergata, in 2012 Lorenzo Jacopo Cesaretti (35 years old) chose Cremona «for the excellent training and professional opportunities, as well as for the constructive and pleasant climate in the workplace». Here he deals with the treatment of pathologies hip And knee, in particular degenerative pathology and sports trauma.
Lorenzo Jacopo Cesaretti
«I chose Cremona because I think it is a great place to work», he says Alice Garzia (33 years old), on the staff for nine years. Graduated and specialized in Parma in surgery knee, uses the most recent techniques for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament and suturing of the meniscus, even on sports injuries. Here he found the opportunity to «learn in the field and from a very varied series of patients, in a positive environment characterized by mutual help».
Alice Grazia
Carlo Pasquali (64 years old) specialized at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute in Bologna. «I started dealing with spinal surgery and in 2000 I moved on to knee, from prostheses to arthroscopic and ligament surgery. The experience gained allows me to help young people grow quickly: I am often the one who assists them in the room, leaving the possibility of carrying out interventions and procedures in person, offering support and supervision”.
Carlo Pasquali
Specialized in Milan, Stefano Lodigiani (59 years old) has been working in Cremona since 2020. His long-term experience leads him to deal with the pathology of foot: «In addition to studying bone diseases and trauma, I deal with the correction of hallux valgus or pediatric flat feet. My history and my experience are the basis of the choice of specialization, which I pursue today in Cremona, where I can count on a heterogeneous team, in which everyone brings their own vision, improving the collective work”.
Stefano Lodigiani
