Department of Orthopedics

About Us

About Us

History

The practice of Orthopedic Surgery started at The Medical City with the establishment of the Section of Orthopedics under the Department of Surgery in 1967, when the hospital was founded as the ABM Sison General Hospital. Dr. Rodolfo Dimayuga, one of the pioneering Filipino orthopedic specialists and first chairman of the Philippine Board of Orthopedics, served as first Section Head. Under his leadership, The Medical City became one of the leading early proponents of modern orthopedic practice in the country, particularly excelling in extremity trauma management, spine surgery, hand surgery and joint reconstruction.

By the early nineties, a preliminary program for training residents had been developed, initially utilizing general surgical trainees and eventually geared towards independent orthopedic surgical residency. However, plans for the establishment of Orthopedics as a full clinical department were hampered by a moratorium imposed by the Philippine Board of Orthopedics on the accreditation of orthopedic training programs. As such, Orthopedics was still maintained as section of the Department of Surgery. During this time, leadership of the section was transferred to Dr. Ramon Celo, and the Section enjoyed further influx of new subspecialty-based consultants and acquisition of new surgical and diagnostic equipment. The foundation for setting up orthopedic specialty units was laid out.

In June, 2004, The Medical City was relocated to its present site and underwent massive physical and organizational transformation. With the hospital transfer, the process of departmentalization received an unprecedented boost as Management highlighted Orthopedics as one of its priority programs. Dr. Rafael S. Claudio was appointed new Section Head replacing Dr. Celo, and was given the specific mandate of effecting its transition into a full department. This came into fruition on January 27, 2006, when the new Department of Orthopedics was formally inaugurated and introduced to all leaders of The Medical City’s clinical departments, with Dr. Claudio as the first Chairman.

Services

Scope and Nature of Services

The Department offers its services to all patients with orthopedic ailments, regardless of age, sex and socio-economic circumstances. This includes illnesses requiring either surgical or non-surgical management, as well as screening and diagnosis for any musculoskeletal disorders.

DEPARTMENT UNITS

Trauma Unit

Orthopedic trauma accounts for the majority of emergency room cases seen at The Medical City and majority of patients treated by the Department. As the “bread and butter” of orthopedic practice, trauma care has been organized as a subspecialty to further improve the quality of orthopedic management. The Orthopedic Trauma Unit handles mainly fractures, dislocations and soft-tissue injuries of the extremities. Common treatment modalities consist of surgical fracture fixation, joint reduction and non-surgical manipulation and immobilization, and complex soft-tissue injury management.

Joint Replacement Unit

The Arthritis and Joint Replacement Unit provides the highest-quality medical and surgical care for patients with chronic joint disorders. The Unit has on staff some of the best joint reconstructive specialists in the country today. Working closely with other specialty fields, the Unit empowers patients and their caregivers with knowledge and understanding of their disease. It provides competent, modern surgical care for chronic joint disorders, mainly hip and knee replacement, which is the current hallmark of joint reconstruction.

Musculoskeletal Tumor Unit

The Unit aims to make The Medical City the premier referral center for the treatment of musculoskeletal tumors. It is part of both the Department of Orthopedics and The Medical City Oncology Center. Since musculoskeletal oncology is multidisciplinary in nature, the Unit works closely with medical oncology, pathology, and radiation oncology, as well as different support units and specialists to provide comprehensive care to our patients. The target population of the Unit consists of patients with primary bone and soft tissue tumors and those with metastatic bone disease. Procedures had done include limb salvage surgeries, all varieties of amputations, adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and bone and soft tissue reconstructions. The Unit is likewise a rich source of research in the field of musculoskeletal tumors.

Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Unit

Sports-related injuries account for a significant portion of emergency room and outpatient consultations in The Medical City. The Sports Medicine/Arthroscopy Unit aims to address problems pertaining to these sports-related injuries, most commonly involving the knees, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and foot. The Unit is defined by its expertise in the utilization of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of such condition. It is secondarily involved in the management of degenerative conditions that may be treated in a minimally invasive manner. It also employs a multidisciplinary approach in the holistic care of athletes, working closely with allied specialties like rehabilitation medicine, nutrition, and sports physiology.

Pediatrics

The Unit oversees the diagnosis and management of the common orthopedic congenital and developmental problems of the extremities, including clubfoot deformities, developmental hip dysplasia, bone and joint infections, and neglected traumatic injuries. The most common surgical procedures are: correction of limb deformities and limb length discrepancies, clubfoot surgery, tendon transfers and other soft tissue procedures for paralytic deformities, non-arthroplastic joint reconstruction, and treatment of bone and joint infections in children.

The Pediatric Unit will also establish its own database for pediatric orthopedic condition and conduct research on important pediatric orthopedic problems. Patient and family education programs as well as cooperation with allied specialties, such as general pediatrics, will also be instituted.

Hand

Traumatic hand injuries account for a significant number of emergency room consults, and their frequently industrial nature lends even more applicability to The Medical City. The Hand Unit oversees the treatment of all from common hand conditions aside from those of a traumatic nature, including infections, acquired or congenital deformities, degenerative conditions and peripheral nerve disorders. It also offers micro-vascular replantation and reconstruction for severed digits and hands and augments reconstruction following limb salvage procedures, having at its disposal the necessary equipment to deliver this specialized level of orthopedic care and services.

Spine Surgery

Because of the often-debilitating nature of spinal cord injuries, a specialized level of surgical expertise and care is a prerequisite in dealing with spine conditions. The Unit oversees the treatment of common spine conditions including traumatic injuries, congenital anomalies, deformities (such as scoliosis), infections and tumors. The section foresees a working relationship with its colleagues in the Neurosciences from intra-operative monitoring to working alongside the neurosurgeons in complex spine cases. It will also establish its own database for research purposes.

Our Team

Trauma

Dr. John Andrew Michael A. Bengzon

Dr. Manolito M. Flavier

Dr. Joie P. Illescas

Dr. Rene Vincent S. Levosada

Dr. Frederick Joseph F. Diyco

Joint Replacement

Dr. Emmanuel R. Asedillo

Dr. Rafael S. Claudio

Dr. Liberato C. Leagogo

Dr. David Vincent J. Antonio

Dr. Gregorio M.S. Azores

Dr. Rey Thomas P. Dela Rosa

Dr. Frederick Joseph F. Diyco

Dr. Nilo T. Paner

Dr. Paul Cesar N. San Pedro

Dr. Herminio R. Valenzuela, Jr.

Dr. Fernando A. Acance

Dr. Byron S. Angeles

Dr. Patrick M. Dizon

Dr. Christopher A. Manipon

Dr. Carmelo L. Braganza

Tumor

Dr. Rafael S. Claudio

Dr. Cesar L. Dimayuga

Dr. Albert Jerome C. Quintos

Dr. Richard S. Rotor

Dr. Roland Jason R. Dela Paz

Dr. Clarissa Linda Lopez-Oliva

Dr. Charles Abraham C. Villamin

Sports

Dr. John Andrew Michael A. Bengzon

Dr. Emilia H. Tanchuling

Dr. Lyndon L. Bathan

Dr. Terence E. Leveriza

Dr. Silvino Emmanuel C. Panganiban

Dr. Albert Jerome C. Quintos

Dr. Amelito E. Sia

Dr. Ambrosio S. Valdez III

Dr. Herminio R. Valenzuela, Jr.

Dr. Enrique L. Pasion

Dr. Christopher A. Manipon

Dr. Carmelo Braganza

Pedia

Dr. Jose Bayani O. Aliling

Dr. Daniel V. Dungca

Dr. Carlo Emmanuel J. Sumpaico

Dr. Fredrick G. Tiambeng

Dr. Candice Lim

Adult

Dr. Marc Anthony Limson

Dr. Joie P. Illescas

Dr. Nilo T. Paner

Dr. David Vincent J. Antonio

Dr. Emilia H. Tanchuling

Dr. Fernando Acance

Hand

Dr. Severino L. Tanbonliong

Dr. David L. Alagar

Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella

Dr. Nelson T. Lim

Dr. Carl Ryan Marino D. Taguba

Dr. Patrick M. Dizon

Foot and Ankle

Dr. Fernando Acance

Spine

Dr. Larry V. Acuña

Dr. Jose Miguel T. Lumawig

Dr. Antonio B. Sison

Dr. Anne Kathleen G. Antonio

Dr. Paolo Antonio F. Castro

Dr. Ryan Conrad D. Carnero

Dr. Fredrick G. Tiambeng

Dr. Marc Anthony M. Limson

Dr. Gerardo Juan M. Sison

Dr. Mary Ruth A. Padua

Dr. Jose Martin S. Paiso

General Orthopedics

Dr. Consuelo Amparo De Vera

Dr. Roberto U. Velasco