Bennett

Veterinary Hospital

MVDr. Richard KapalkoCert. SAS, AdvCertSAOS

Founder of the clinic & certified surgeon & orthopaedic specialist AdvCertSAOS

MVDr. Richard Kapalko

MVDr. Richard Kapalko

MVDr. Richard Kapalko is the founder of the clinic, certified in advanced orthopaedics, with more than 25 years of specialised practice. He works in orthopaedic diagnostics in the lameness laboratory, which is equipped with digital lameness diagnostics through MRI, CT and fluoroscopy imaging, orthopaedic ultrasound and direct-digital X-ray. He considers the earliest, most effective diagnosis of orthopaedic problems a priority — especially in developmental disorders, which become harder to correct with age.

Surgically he covers the full spectrum of orthopaedic procedures — from elbow arthroscopy and intervertebral disc surgery to total hip replacement. Fractures are treated to AO-ASIF standards. He emphasises minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery and comprehensive care for the patient after the procedure itself.

An important part of our approach is therefore the link to our physiotherapy centre, which allows orthopaedic care at Bennett to flow, on an individual basis, into follow-up physiotherapy. Our key aim is for diagnostics, surgery and aftercare to form one connected whole, so that the patient receives high-quality, effective orthopaedic care.

Areas of practice
  • Arthroscopy
  • Joint replacement
  • Orthopaedic surgery
  • AO-ASIF fracture treatment
  • Lameness laboratory
Education & career
  • 1996 — University of Veterinary Medicine (UVM) in Košice, with distinction
  • 1996–1999 — Assistant lecturer, Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics, UVM
  • 1997 — Clinical placement, University of Florida, Dept. of Zoo & Wildlife Services, tutored by Prof. Avery R. Bennett, Dipl. ACVS
  • 1998 — Visiting surgeon, STPS-Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, Athens
  • 2000 — founded Bennett Veterinary Hospital, Bratislava — orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery
  • 2018 — Cert. SAS, certification in veterinary surgery, International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies, UK
  • 2021 — Adv. Cert. SAOS, international certification in advanced orthopaedic surgery
Memberships
  • ESVOT — European Society for Veterinary Orthopaedics and Traumatology
  • AO-ASIF VET — Association for Osteosynthesis / Association for the Study of Internal Fixation
Workshops & conferences
  • 2008 — TTA, Zurich Vet Uni (S. Tepich, P. Montavon)
  • 2009 — Spinal surgery, CPD Solutions (L. Garosi, S. Platt), Swindon
  • 2009 — THR Biomedtrix Universal Hip System BFX/CFX (M. Kowaleski, J. Dyce, A. Pozzi), München
  • 2009 — PennHIP, University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (G. Smith), ESVOT & SCIVAC, München
  • 2010 — AO-ASIF, Principles of small animals fracture management, Glasgow
  • 2013 — Zaškolenie posudzovateľov luxácie pately, SAVLMZ, Bratislava
  • 2013 — PGR, Patellar Groove Replacement, ESVOT & SCIVAC, Vienna
  • 2013 — MMT, ESVOT & SCIVAC Courses, Vienna
  • 2013 — Micro Hip System, ESVOT & SCIVAC Courses, Vienna (W. Liska)
  • 2013 — Partial Carpal Arthrodesis by Orthomed, ESVOT & SCIVAC Courses, Vienna
  • 2015 — Arthroscopy, continuing course, Ghent Vet Uni (B. Van Ryssen), Ghent
  • 2016 — THR Innoplant Modular System BFX/CFX, Bratislava/Bennett Hospital (M. Arbabian)
  • 2018 — Pelvic surgery I. Coxofemoral luxation & Hip dysplasia (B. Peirone, L. Piras), ESVPS, Cremona
  • 2018 — Pelvic surgery II. Total hip replacement (A. Vezzoni, U. Mattis), ISVPS, Cremona
  • 2018 — Stifle surgery I. TPLO & TTA (A. Vezzoni, U. Mattis), ISVPS, Cremona
  • 2018 — Stifle surgery II. CBLO & CCWO (D. Skytte, H. Schmoekel), ISVPS, Cremona
  • 2018 — General hindlimb surgery — Patella alta, tibial and femoral procedures (D. Skytte, H. Schmoekel), ESVPS, Cremona
  • 2018 — Arthroscopic procedures I. (P. Lafuente, U. Rytz), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Arthroscopic procedures II. (P. Lafuente, U. Rytz), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Shoulder surgery (A. Andreoni, P. Lafuente), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Elbow surgery I. (A. Danielski, A. Andreoni), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Elbow surgery II. (A. Danielski, A. Andreoni), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Achilles tendon and tarsal surgery (S. Rutherford, S. Clarke), ESVPS, Madrid
  • 2018 — Limb fractures I. (R. Messon, H. Radke), ESVPS, Sheffield
  • 2018 — Limb fractures II. (H. Bergman), ESVPS, Sheffield
  • 2018 — Neurosurgery I. (S. Behr, B. Oxley), ESVPS, Sheffield
  • 2018 — Neurosurgery II. (S. Behr, B. Oxley), ESVPS, Sheffield

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