Christian Fortanier

Listening attentively to the patient is my motto. We decide together what the best treatment is.

I specialise in hip replacement surgery using the anterior approach and in treating accidents/fractures. My patients can experience significant hip problems. For instance, they may no longer be able to reach their feet and sometimes barely leave the house due to severe pain. After the operation, this pain often disappears within a few days. And after 6 weeks, they can walk quite well again. As a doctor, this gives me great satisfaction.

During my first job as a resident physician, I discovered that orthopedics seemed to me the most beautiful profession. The beauty of the field is that you see quick results. Someone comes with a problem, you operate, and the problem is usually solved afterward. My goal is for people to be able to move well again.

During operations, you're very technically engaged, but as an orthopedic surgeon, you also need to be social. When the patient first comes to me, I listen carefully to their story to know what I can do. It's very important that I decide together with the patient what the best treatment is. I explain the possibilities, and the patient considers what suits them best. I explain everything as clearly as possible so that the patient knows what to expect. Patients really appreciate this. They feel that I'm truly listening to them and that I see them as a person. Not just as a hip that needs to be repaired.

Areas of focus:
- New hip via anterior approach
- Hip revision
- Traumatology

Education and specialisation:
- 2008-2011 Orthopedics Training, Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague and LUMC, Leiden
- 2005-2007 Pre-training General Surgery, OLVG Amsterdam
- 2004-2005 Resident Orthopedics, Amsterdam UMC
- 2003-2004 Resident General Surgery, BovenIJ Amsterdam
- 1995-2002 Medicine, Leiden University