Young Romanian gymnast Amalia Ghigoarță recently underwent a complex, pro bono knee surgery at Wiener Privatklinik (WPK), one of Austria's leading private hospitals, recognized among the World's Best Hospitals for five consecutive years. Her treatment was fully covered by the "Friends of WPK" Association, whose Honorary President is Octavian Bellu. The NGO was set up early this year and aims to help patients access specialized medical care in Vienna, particularly when advanced treatment options are not available in Romania. One of its key missions is to help athletes gain access to state-of-the-art care following sports injuries.
Amalia sustained a serious injury during training that posed significant risks to her athletic future. She was diagnosed with a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee, a grade 3 lateral meniscus tear, a grade 2 medial meniscus tear, and fractures to the right femoral condyle and the collateral ligament, a rare and severe combination requiring immediate and highly specialized surgical intervention.
The surgery was performed by a team led by Dr. Paul Stampfl, Head of the Competence Center for Joint Surgery at WPK, with more than 20 years of international experience in orthopedic and trauma surgery.
"Amalia's case was especially complex, with multiple ligament ruptures and significant cartilage damage. We performed the surgery using high-precision, minimally invasive techniques and state-of-the-art technology, allowing us to personalize the procedure to her exact needs. The intervention went very well, and considering her determination and positive mindset, we're confident that, with proper rehabilitation, she has a strong chance of making a full return to the sport," said Dr. Stampfl.
The procedure lasted approximately 1.5 hours, and Amalia will now enter a tailored rehabilitation program for the following 2 months. If her recovery progresses as planned, she could return to training by early 2026, with a potential return to competitive gymnastics later that year.
WPK's Center of Excellence in Sports Medicine and Trauma Surgery specializes in treating sports injuries of all types and severity levels. Its expert team uses minimally invasive procedures and cutting-edge techniques to reduce complication risks and accelerate recovery, helping athletes safely return to performance.
Amalia Ghigoarță represented Romania at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where the national team placed 7th overall, and she finished 22nd in the individual all-around. In 2022, she won silver medals in both the team and individual events at the European Junior Championships in Munich. She will take her high school graduation exam in 2026 and will then begin her studies at Michigan State University on a full athletic scholarship. There, she will compete in the U.S. collegiate championship (NCAA) while continuing to represent Romania in international competitions.
Founded in 1871, Wiener Privatklinik is one of Austria's largest private hospitals and has been recognized as one of the World's Best Hospitals (2021-2025). With 145 beds, five operating theatres, a radiology center featuring PET-CT, and Austria's only private radiotherapy center, the clinic sets standards in modern medicine. More than 300 internationally renowned physicians provide highly specialized diagnostics and treatments at the highest level.
Beyond medical expertise, Wiener Privatklinik WPK focuses on the complete patient experience: over 30 spoken languages, luxurious patient rooms, international à la carte cuisine, specialized dietary plans, VIP services, personal assistance, interpreters, hotel bookings, and transfers.