Patela

Patela is a Zagreb clinic centered on orthopedic examinations, physical rehabilitation, and sports diagnostics for patients who need clear evaluation, practical treatment planning, and structured recovery. Dr. Sasa Bascevan, co-owner and director of Patela, has a central role in the clinic’s rehabilitation and sports medicine direction, connecting orthopedic findings with functional recovery, movement quality, and return-to-activity planning.

Founded in 2009, Patela brings together orthopedic care and rehabilitation for sports injuries, joint pain, postoperative recovery, and musculoskeletal problems that affect walking, exercise, work, and long-term mobility. This clinical model is important because many patients need more than a diagnosis alone. They need a clinic that can identify the source of the problem, define the next step clearly, and support recovery in a structured way. Patela treats professional athletes, recreationally active adults, older patients, and people recovering after injury, surgery, overload, or long-lasting orthopedic pain.

Orthopedic examinations with a clear next step

Orthopedic examinations are one of the main entry points to care at Patela. Patients come with knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, ankle injuries, tendon problems, instability, limited range of motion, persistent symptoms after previous treatment, and recovery questions after surgery or trauma. The goal of the first examination is to define what is causing the symptoms, how advanced the problem is, whether previous imaging is sufficient, and which treatment path makes the most sense next.

That first step may lead to a orthopedic examination, review of MRI, X-ray, or ultrasound findings, a rehabilitation plan, or procedure-based treatment planning when indicated. This is especially relevant for ligament injuries, meniscal problems, cartilage damage, degenerative joint conditions, postoperative follow-up, and orthopedic complaints that have not improved with rest or previous conservative care.

Physical rehabilitation as a central part of treatment

Physical rehabilitation is one of Patela’s main strengths and a central part of the clinic’s day-to-day work. It is built into the treatment pathway from the beginning, which is particularly important in sports injuries, postoperative recovery, chronic joint pain, muscle weakness, tendon overload, and return-to-sport or return-to-activity planning. Recovery in these cases depends on more than temporary symptom relief. It depends on movement quality, progression of load, function under stress, and a rehabilitation plan that follows the actual orthopedic problem.

At Patela, rehabilitation is closely aligned with orthopedic assessment. Patients may come for recovery after knee or shoulder procedures, rehabilitation after ligament or tendon injury, support after reduced mobility, or a structured program for safer return to movement. This pathway connects naturally with services such as physical therapy, knee arthroscopy and meniscus repair, and ACL reconstruction when the case requires both specialist orthopedic review and structured rehabilitation.

Orthopedic leadership and sports medicine focus

Patela’s orthopedic team is closely associated with Prof. Sasa Jankovic and Dr. Trpimir Vrdoljak. Their work is connected with sports orthopedics, arthroscopic procedures, ligament treatment, joint reconstruction, and the treatment of injuries and orthopedic conditions that affect both performance and everyday function. This gives Patela a strong role in cases where patients need specialist examination, conservative treatment planning, rehabilitation, or surgical direction within one coordinated pathway.

Sports medicine is an important part of the clinic’s identity, but Patela is not limited to elite competition medicine. The same clinical logic applies to non-athletes who want to reduce pain, recover safely, improve movement, and make a clear decision about what treatment should come next.

Sports diagnostics and broader musculoskeletal care

Sports diagnostics add an important layer to Patela’s work because orthopedic recovery often depends on more than how symptoms feel at rest. Patients may need a clearer picture of muscle performance, imbalance, movement quality, and readiness to return to training, work, or normal activity. That is why diagnostics fit naturally within the clinic’s wider orthopedic and rehabilitation pathway.

Patela’s musculoskeletal care also includes osteopathy and therapeutic massage. Together with orthopedics, rehabilitation, and diagnostics, this supports patients who need hands-on treatment, movement support, recovery work, or a broader non-operative care plan in the same clinic setting.

• Founded: 2009
• Location: Prisavlje 2, Boćarski dom, 2nd floor, Zagreb
• Main areas: orthopedic examinations, physical rehabilitation, sports diagnostics
• Additional services: osteopathy, therapeutic massage
• Rehabilitation leadership: Dr. Sasa Bascevan
• Orthopedic leadership: Prof. Sasa Jankovic and Dr. Trpimir Vrdoljak

Send an inquiry with your symptoms, previous treatment, and any MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, or operative reports you already have. This helps direct you to the right orthopedic examination, rehabilitation plan, or next treatment step from the start.