Hospital HM Málaga

Name: Dr. Manuel Díaz Samada

Title: Head of Specialty

Bio: Dr Manuel Díaz Samada is one of Spain's most distinguished trauma surgeons with more than 40 years of specialist clinical experience. He is widely recognised as a pioneer of arthroscopic surgery in Spain and an authority on sports traumatology, knee reconstruction and minimally invasive joint surgery. Throughout his career he has combined clinical excellence, academic leadership and international collaboration, earning a reputation as one of Andalucía's foremost orthopaedic surgeons. Dr Díaz graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Seville in 1979 before completing his specialist training in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology at Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, between 1979 and 1982. In 1983, he undertook advanced fellowship training in knee surgery and arthroscopy at Hôpital Tripode in Bordeaux under Professor Jean-Paul Sénégas, one of Europe's leading pioneers of knee reconstruction. He further consolidated his academic credentials in 1987 with a doctoral thesis entitled Arthroscopy of the Knee, reflecting his early commitment to advancing minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery. Over more than four decades, Dr Díaz has become one of Spain's leading specialists in knee arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, meniscal surgery, total knee replacement, shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair, ankle arthroscopy and the treatment of sports injuries. Between 1989 and 2018, he served as Head of the Knee and Arthroscopy Unit at the Instituto Malagueño de Traumatología y Medicina del Deporte (IMATDE), before becoming Head of the Institute and Head of Orthopaedics for HM Hospitales Málaga in 2018. His practice combines minimally invasive techniques with modern rehabilitation protocols designed to reduce postoperative pain, accelerate recovery and optimise long-term functional outcomes. Dr Díaz has made an exceptional contribution to orthopaedic education and professional leadership. He served as President of the Spanish Arthroscopy Association (AEA) from 2005 to 2007, later directing its Education Committee, and chaired the Association's National Congresses in 1993 and 2004. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Latin American Society of Knee and Sports Surgery (SLARD) between 2006 and 2009. Throughout his career he has delivered invited lectures at national and international congresses and authored numerous scientific publications on arthroscopic surgery and sports traumatology. His contribution to orthopaedic practice has been recognised through repeated Top Doctors Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2021. Within the MMG network, Dr Díaz represents a flagship orthopaedic surgeon, offering patients more than four decades of consultant experience, internationally recognised expertise in arthroscopic and reconstructive joint surgery, and access to consultant-led treatment within HM Málaga's advanced multidisciplinary orthopaedic service.

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Name: Dr. Pablo Carnero Martín de Soto

Title: Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist

Bio: Dr. Pablo Carnero Martín de Soto is a highly accomplished orthopaedic surgeon and traumatologist who specializes in advanced upper limb conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. Based in Málaga, Spain, he has built a distinguished professional career rooted in extensive international training and a strong commitment to patient welfare. He earned his medical degree from the University of Málaga and completed his residency training at the Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga. He further elevated his clinical expertise by undertaking specialized postgraduate studies, which include a Master’s Degree in Sports Traumatology from UCAM and a Master’s Degree in Shoulder Pathology from UNIA. To complement his education, Dr. Carnero pursued international fellowships at world-renowned institutions, such as the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, United States, and the Schön Klinik in Munich, Germany. These global experiences provided him with comprehensive expertise in managing complex, rare, and difficult-to-treat musculoskeletal disorders. Throughout his professional journey, Dr. Carnero has held significant roles within the medical and athletic communities. He served as an official team physician for the Spanish National Handball Team and has actively led professional organizations, serving as the coordinator for the youth committee of the Spanish Arthroscopy Association. Currently, he delivers high-quality medical care across several premier healthcare facilities in the Málaga province, including Hospital HM Málaga. His everyday clinical practice focus on advanced arthroscopic techniques for the shoulder, wrist, and knee, complex reconstructive upper limb surgeries, joint replacements, and cutting-edge biological therapies designed to accelerate recovery in sports-related injuries.

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Name: Dr. Luis Doncel Alcaide

Title: Orthopedic Surgeon

Bio: Dr. Luis Doncel Alcaide is a highly regarded Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon based in Malaga, Spain, with more than fifteen years of specialized clinical experience. He currently serves as the Head of the Lower Limb Unit at Imatde Arthrosport and practices across several prominent medical centers along the Costa del Sol, including Hospital HM Malaga. Throughout his career, he has combined advanced surgical practice with academic research and clinical evaluation, establishing himself as a trusted specialist in both public and private healthcare sectors. His core areas of clinical expertise focus heavily on adult orthopedic surgery, reconstructive joint surgery, and sports medicine. Dr. Doncel Alcaide specializes in primary and revision total joint replacements, particularly hip and knee arthroplasty. He is also highly proficient in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries of the knee, hip, and ankle, routinely treating complex ligament tears, meniscus injuries, and joint instability. In addition to surgical interventions, he integrates cutting-edge regenerative medicine into his practice, utilizing biological therapies such as platelet-rich plasma injections to treat early-stage osteoarthritis and tendon pathologies in athletes. In terms of academic credentials, Dr. Doncel Alcaide graduated with a Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Malaga. He later earned his PhD in Medicine from the same institution, achieving the highest possible academic distinction of Sobresaliente Cum Laude. Demonstrating a strong commitment to medical research, he was awarded the prestigious National Ordesa Research Prize early in his career. To complement his orthopedic practice, he also obtained a Diploma in Bodily Harm Assessment from the Carlos III University of Madrid, qualifying him to provide expert medical expert witness testimonies. Dr. Doncel Alcaide offers bilingual consultations in both Spanish and English, allowing him to effectively treat the large international patient community residing in Malaga and Marbella. He collaborates with major national and international private health insurance companies, ensuring wide accessibility for patients seeking expert orthopedic care.

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Name: Dr. Abel Gómez Cáceres

Title: Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist

Bio: Dr. Abel Gómez Cáceres is a highly accomplished Spanish orthopedic surgeon specializing in Sports Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery. He earned his medical degree from the University of Extremadura and completed his specialized residency in Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery. To further deepen his expertise in athletic care, he obtained a Master’s degree in Sports Traumatology from the Catholic University of Murcia. His clinical focus is primarily dedicated to advanced arthroscopic and sports surgery, with a strong specialization in complex pathologies of the shoulder and knee. His professional background is backed by training and work experience at world-class national and international institutions, including the Clinique du Sport in Bordeaux, France, and Dr. Leyes' renowned medical team at the Olympia Clinic in Madrid. In his clinical practice, Dr. Gómez Cáceres is a strong advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to medicine and patient care, ensuring all treatments are heavily grounded in the latest scientific evidence. He currently serves as a traumatologist for the Andalusian Footballers' Mutual Insurance Company under the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Furthermore, he maintains an active presence in the sports community by collaborating closely with most of the major sports federations and athletic clubs throughout the province, delivering high-level medical care to both elite and amateur sports practitioners.

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Name: Dr. Carlos Ferrer Señoráns

Title: Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist

Bio: Dr. Carlos Ferrer Señoráns is a highly accomplished Spanish specialist in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology with over 25 years of professional experience. Currently based in Málaga, Spain, he has established himself as a leading expert in joint preservation, orthobiology, and advanced regenerative medicine. His professional philosophy focuses on conservative, minimally invasive, and biological treatment approaches aimed at restoring joint function and delaying or completely avoiding the need for artificial joint replacements. His academic journey began at the University of Málaga, where he graduated with a Degree in Medicine and Surgery in 1994. Following his initial medical training, he completed his official specialization in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, which was formally recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports in 2002. Seeking international expertise, Dr. Ferrer Señoráns moved to the United Kingdom, where he spent nearly a decade refining his surgical and clinical skills. During this pivotal period abroad, he served as a specialized Trauma Fellow in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology at the prestigious Addenbrooke's Hospital, affiliated with Cambridge University Hospital. This international residency provided him with deep insights into complex joint management and advanced traumatology. Upon his return to Spain, Dr. Ferrer Señoráns integrated his extensive background into groundbreaking medical structures in Málaga. He currently holds several high-level leadership positions. He serves as the Head of the Regenerative Medicine and Joint Preservation Unit at the IMATDE-Arthrosport medical team. Additionally, he is the Coordinator and Head of the Biological Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Unit across the HM Hospitales network in Málaga, where he oversees clinical protocols for biological therapies. He also co-directs a specialized surgical unit dedicated to ultrasound-guided minimally invasive techniques, commonly referred to as sonosurgery, in orthopedic care. Dr. Ferrer Señoráns specializes in treating severe osteoarthritis, complex muscle and tendon pathologies, and sports injuries. His clinical expertise spans arthroscopic hip and knee surgeries, corrective osteotomies, and advanced biological therapies such as autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) intra-articular injections and subchondroplasty. He is widely recognized for his work in combining orthobiologic treatments with specific physical therapies and external unloading orthoses to treat knee osteoarthritis complicated by bone marrow edema, a methodology that significantly reduces pain and enhances joint mobility. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Ferrer Señoráns is actively involved in medical education and training. He communicates fluently in both Spanish and English, allowing him to treat an international patient base in southern Spain.

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Name: Dr. Virgilio De Lemos Álvarez

Title: Orthopaedic Surgeon and Traumatologist

Bio: Dr. Virgilio De Lemos Álvarez is a highly distinguished orthopedic and trauma surgeon with more than 25 years of professional experience, specializing in spinal pathology and advanced surgical interventions. He earned his Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Malaga and completed his specialized residency training via MIR at the prestigious Regional University Hospital of Malaga, formerly known as Carlos Haya Hospital. Throughout his career, Dr. De Lemos Álvarez has established himself as a leading authority in the treatment of complex spine conditions, including lumbar and cervical herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis in both children and adults, spondylolisthesis, and vertebral compression fractures. His clinical approach balances conservative management with high-precision surgical solutions, showcasing expertise in advanced techniques such as microdiscectomy, spinal fusion, and minimally invasive procedures like kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, and rhizolysis for chronic pain management. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. De Lemos Álvarez has maintained a strong commitment to academic and institutional advancement in orthopedics. He was an integral part of the team at the Malaga Institute of Traumatology and Sports Medicine (IMATDE) for over 20 years, serving as a founding member and Chief of the Spine Unit. He currently serves as the Head of the Spinal Surgery Unit at the HM El Pilar Day Hospital in Malaga and offers expert consultation and surgical services at Hospital Ochoa in Marbella. Over the past two decades, he has consistently refined his surgical expertise by participating in numerous spinal surgery courses, Andalusian Spine Conferences, and prominent international summits of global spine experts. His long-standing dedication to professional excellence is further underscored by his active involvement in premier medical societies, having been a member of the Spanish Society of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology (SECOT) since 1996 and a member of the Spanish Group for Spinal Diseases (GEER) since 2002. Recognized by patients and peers alike for his clinical precision and compassionate care, Dr. De Lemos Álvarez continues to shape the field of spinal care in the Costa del Sol region.

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