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Joint Treatment for Patients from Goma

Regenerative SVF and PRP injections for knees, hips, shoulders and other joints, with your scans checked free beforehand

Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

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What it is

What is regenerative
joint treatment?

Material from your own body is at the heart of regenerative joint treatment — PRP, a platelet-rich plasma derived from blood, and SVF, the stromal vascular fraction derived from a small sample of adipose tissue. Placed into the affected joint by injection, it reduces pain and inflammation and supports the joint's tissues.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

Examination and scan review come first; then the doctor decides whether the treatment suits you

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
  • Painkillers only help for a short time
  • Recovery after injuries and surgery
  • You need a second opinion on your scans
  • You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
  • Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
  • High load on the joints — sport or physical work

Not suitable

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: fever, a cold or flu, skin inflammation over the joint to be treated

Not sure the treatment is right for you?

Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Find out if it suits me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

An examination of the joint and a review of your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound results let the doctor decide whether the procedure suits you. Please send any scans you have before the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

We take a small blood sample from a vein. From it, platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is prepared later on.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is centrifuged and divides into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated from it and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor places the prepared material precisely by injecting it straight into the affected joint.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No stay in hospital and no crutches are needed. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure to see how the joint responds.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~6 months

    The full effect develops.

How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result.

Comparison

Methods we use

Only material from your own blood and adipose tissue is used, with no donor or synthetic components

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

Your adipose tissue, taken in a small sample, is processed so that the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) can be isolated: a mixture of cells that play a role in tissue repair. Together with your own plasma, it goes into the affected joint.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

Usually it is selected where joint changes are more significant and a longer effect is the aim.

Material
Your adipose tissue and plasma
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors comes from a small amount of your blood; once injected into the joint, it helps reduce inflammation and sets up better conditions for tissue repair.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

It can be given as its own course of injections or combined with SVF.

Material
Your blood from a vein
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan

Free consultation

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

Large or small, each joint is assessed on your scans first — then the doctor chooses the method and how many injections are needed

  • KneeKneePain climbing stairs or after walking, cartilage wear, meniscus trouble
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderWorn joint and surrounding tendons, pain when lifting the arm
  • ElbowElbowWear of the joint surfaces, pain after overuse or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsSmall joints of the wrist and fingers that are stiff and sore
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Treatment without surgery: we work to save your own joint rather than replace it

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Only material from your own blood and adipose tissue is used, with no donor or synthetic components

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic, punctures instead of incisions, and no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

A doctor gives a free, independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send us

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We keep following the result and stay in touch after the procedure, not only on injection day

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

Request a free call

Price

Joint treatment prices

The price depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method, so the doctor gives it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Joint treatment in Goma: what you should know

If you have been told that joint replacement is the only choice, a second opinion is worth getting. In Goma, you can send your scans and reports for a free independent assessment before making any decision about surgery.

Follow-up visits help the doctor see how the joint responds and adjust the plan. In Goma, you receive recommendations on load and exercise for the first weeks, and the doctor stays in touch after the procedure.

How much does joint treatment cost in Goma? The answer comes after the doctor has seen your scans and examined the joint: PRP, SVF or a combination are priced differently. The first consultation is free. Send a request or message us in any messenger.

Goma and the joints: why knee and hip problems matter here

Goma is the capital and largest city of North Kivu province, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city had a population of 782,000 people in 2024. A city of this size has many people who spend the day on their feet: traders, porters, teachers, students, drivers, farmers who bring produce to the markets, and fishermen and boat workers along the lake. All of them rely on healthy knees and hips, so a painful joint quickly becomes a problem for the whole household.

Goma's surface is mostly volcanic. The city stands on a plain of ancient lava that slopes gently towards the lake, and basalt flows cover much of the ground. Hills such as Mount Goma and Mount Ndosho break up the flat areas. Anyone with a sore knee or hip knows how tiring uneven ground, stone steps and slopes can be. Many patients first notice the problem when climbing a hill on the way home or when carrying a load on a rough surface.

Joint treatment covers a wide range: conservative care, arthroscopy and joint replacement. Most people do not need the most invasive option. The aim of the first consultation is to place your problem on this ladder honestly and to decide which step suits you now and which can wait.

Climate of Goma and recovery after joint treatment

Goma has a tropical savanna climate. Because the city lies high, between roughly 1,640 and 2,000 m in the northern part of the plain, it is much milder than most places at its latitude, with warm days and pleasant nights all year. For recovery this is helpful: you rarely face the extreme heat that makes swelling worse and makes compression garments unbearable.

Warm days still call for sensible habits. Light, breathable clothing that fits over a bandage or compression sleeve, shade at midday and plenty of drinking water help you stay comfortable. Swelling around a knee or hip tends to increase when you stand or sit with the leg hanging down for long periods, so plan regular rests with the leg raised, even on pleasant days.

Dry periods bring dust, and rainy periods bring wet and slippery ground. After an operation, a wet basalt step or a muddy path is a real danger because a fall can undo weeks of careful rehabilitation. Keep the wound clean and dry and follow the surgeon's instructions on dressings. Walk on stable surfaces and use the walking aid you were given until the surgeon says you can stop.

Lake Kivu, swimming and water activities

The lake shapes life in Goma, and many residents like to spend free time on its shores. After arthroscopy or joint replacement, the question is when it is safe to get into the water. The answer depends on the wound. A healing wound should not be soaked in a pool, in the lake or in a bath until the surgeon confirms it has closed properly. Your surgeon will give the exact timing for your case, and you should ask for it in writing.

Once the wound is healed, swimming and gentle movement in water are among the kindest forms of exercise for a recovering knee or hip, because the water carries your weight. Start with easy walking in shallow water, avoid slippery rocks and steep shore entries, and do not dive or twist suddenly. Lake shores can be uneven, so a pool or a sheltered, even entry point is safer in the early stage.

Ask the surgeon specifically about the swimming stroke you prefer. Some movements load the knee or hip differently, and breaststroke kicks, for example, may not suit every joint. A personal plan is better than general advice.

Work, study and the rhythm of daily life

Goma's economy relies mainly on agriculture, and many residents make a living buying and selling farm products from neighbouring territories and from Lake Kivu. Fish markets along the shore operate twice a week. This kind of work involves lifting, carrying, standing for hours and bending. If you work like this, tell the surgeon exactly what a normal day demands. Return to work depends on the procedure and the job, and a market stall owner who can sit and direct others may return sooner than someone who carries loads.

Many people in Goma study or teach. The city is home to the University of Goma, the Free University of the Great Lakes Countries and other higher-education institutions, and the school system runs from kindergarten to secondary level. Students and teachers who spend hours sitting should know that long sitting with a bent knee can stiffen the joint after treatment. Plan to stand, stretch and walk briefly at regular intervals, and arrange seating that allows you to extend the leg.

Families often organise treatment around school terms, harvest periods or busy trading days. Discuss this with the coordinator early. It is easier to choose a calm period when a relative can help at home than to rush the decision during a busy season.

Food, weight and the load on your joints

Food culture in Goma is built on garden crops and staples such as legumes, maize and tubers, together with fish from Lake Kivu. These are filling and nourishing foods. Good nutrition supports healing, and enough protein and vegetables help tissues recover after surgery.

Body weight matters for the knee and the hip, because every extra kilogram adds load with each step. The World Health Organization describes overweight and obesity as major health concerns, and in joint care this is a practical point: if weight is part of your problem, the surgeon may suggest working on it before an elective operation and afterwards. This is a medical conversation, not a judgment, and you can raise it openly in the online consultation.

Family meals and celebrations bring long periods of sitting, standing and serving guests. After treatment, plan how you will manage them: choose a chair with arm support, avoid carrying heavy dishes, and let relatives help. Ask the surgeon whether any dietary supplement or medicine you use could affect healing or bleeding before you decide to take it.

Conservative care, SVF therapy, arthroscopy and replacement

Joint treatment starts with the least invasive options: activity changes, weight control, physiotherapy, exercises and medicines selected by the doctor. Many patients in Goma first try these for a long time because they are simple and available close to home. If pain and stiffness persist, imaging and a specialist opinion show whether a more active treatment is needed.

For the hip, the stage of the disease is decisive. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. This is why early consultation matters: a person who waits until walking is nearly impossible may have fewer options than someone who asks while the joint is still preserved.

The SVF procedure itself is gentle. Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. Arthroscopy is a keyhole look into the joint, used for selected problems, and joint replacement is reserved for advanced damage. Which one fits you is decided by examination and images, not by what a neighbour or relative had done.

When pain may be arthritis and not simple wear

Not every painful joint is the same. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis.

This distinction matters in Goma, where many people attribute joint pain to hard work or age and wait. If your knee or hip hurts at night, is stiff for a long time in the morning, or looks red and warm, mention it clearly at the first consultation. Inflammatory causes need their own treatment and tests, and surgery on a joint that is actively inflamed may be postponed.

Keep a short note of when the pain appears, how long the morning stiffness lasts, which joints are involved and which medicines you have already taken. Photographs of swelling and any earlier scans or laboratory results make the remote assessment much more precise.

Who is a candidate and who should wait

In general terms, good candidates for planned joint treatment are adults whose pain limits walking, work or sleep despite conservative care, and who are ready to follow a rehabilitation plan. Contraindications for elective procedures usually include active infection in the body or near the joint, uncontrolled chronic illness, untreated inflammatory flare and conditions that make anaesthesia unsafe. The surgeon decides case by case.

Tell the doctor about every illness, medicine, allergy and previous operation, and about any current skin problem near the joint. Smoking, poor blood sugar control and excess weight can all slow healing, and the surgeon may ask you to improve them first. This is normal planning and not a refusal.

Ask practical questions. What is the aim of this treatment: less pain, better walking, or delay of replacement? What are the alternatives? What are the possible complications? What will rehabilitation require at home? How will problems be handled after the first weeks? A good surgeon answers clearly and does not promise perfection.

Choosing the season and planning the recovery period

Goma has warm days and pleasant nights all year, so temperature rarely decides the timing. Rain, dust and the state of paths matter more. Many patients prefer a period when the ground is dry and stable, so that early walking is safer, and when work and school duties are lighter.

Plan the recovery period at home before the procedure. Prepare a room with few steps, a chair with a firm seat, a clear route to the bathroom and good lighting. Arrange help with water, shopping and household tasks. If you manage a stall or shop, decide who will run it. Ask the surgeon how long you should avoid driving, sport and heavy carrying, and follow that guidance rather than how you feel on a good day.

Sport is part of life in Goma, from football on weekends to walking in the hills around the city. Return to sport is gradual: first walking on even ground, then light exercise, and only later activities with jumping or sudden turns. The surgeon and the rehabilitation specialist should confirm each step.

How the remote consultation works from Goma

You contact the centre from your own city. The online consultation is free, and coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on WhatsApp and Telegram. You write or send voice messages in the language you are comfortable with, share scans, reports and photographs, and describe your symptoms and daily demands.

The coordinator organises your documents and passes them to the specialist. You then discuss the assessment: the most likely cause of the pain, which options fit your stage, what additional tests are needed and what recovery looks like. You are not asked to decide on the first call. Take your time, discuss it with your family, and ask for clarification as often as needed.

After treatment, the same channels stay open for questions about wound care, swelling, exercises and any concern that appears in the first weeks. Send clear photographs and short descriptions so that the team can judge what is normal and what needs prompt attention.

Do I need to be treated at once if my knee or hip hurts?

Not necessarily. Many people start with conservative care such as exercises, weight control and prescribed medicines. A specialist assessment shows whether this is enough or whether arthroscopy, SVF therapy or replacement should be considered.

How do I tell arthritis from ordinary joint wear?

Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. If you notice these signs, tell the doctor early.

What is SVF therapy and when is it considered?

At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. The doctor decides after reviewing your images and history.

How is the tissue for SVF taken?

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Does the mild climate of Goma help recovery?

The city is high and mild, with warm days and pleasant nights year-round, so extreme heat is rarely a problem. Still, use light clothing, rest with the leg raised, drink water and avoid slippery or uneven ground, especially in wet weather.

Can I swim in Lake Kivu after treatment?

Not until the surgeon confirms the wound has healed. Afterwards, gentle swimming or walking in shallow water is usually kind to the joints, but choose even entry points and avoid slippery rocks.

When can I return to work?

It depends on the procedure and on your job. Desk or supervisory work usually allows an earlier return than jobs with lifting, carrying and long standing, such as market or port work. Ask the surgeon for guidance based on your daily tasks.

Does body weight affect joint treatment?

Yes. Extra weight increases the load on the knee and hip and can slow recovery. The World Health Organization treats overweight and obesity as significant health concerns, and your surgeon may discuss weight management as part of the plan.

What should I send for the online consultation?

Send previous scans and reports, a list of medicines, notes on your symptoms, and photographs if there is swelling or redness. Coordinators reply around the clock (24/7) on WhatsApp and Telegram and the consultation is free.