Dr. Ricardo Varatojo

Dr. José Ricardo C. Varatojo is a leading orthopaedic trauma and sports medicine surgeon, serving as the Coordinator of the Knee, Ankle, Arthroscopy and Sports Trauma Unit at Hospital CUF Descobertas in Lisbon.

He graduated in Medicine from the University of Lisbon and completed his orthopaedic training at Hospital de Santa Maria, where he served as Senior Hospital Assistant and Head of the Orthopaedic Emergency Team. In 2002, driven by a desire to innovate beyond the public sector, he left to fully dedicate himself to helping establish the Centre of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (COT) at CUF Descobertas—now recognized for its pioneering work in knee, ankle, arthroscopy, and sports trauma surgery.

Since 2001, Dr. Varatojo has led the Knee, Ankle, Arthroscopy and Sports Trauma Unit, performing over 350 surgical procedures annually. He has been an influential figure in both national and international orthopaedic communities, serving as President of the Portuguese Society of Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology (2008–2010), as well as a member of ESSKA’s Arthroscopy Committee (2006–2010) and ISAKOS’s Communications Committee (2011–2015).

An active educator and innovator, he organizes and directs advanced courses—including cadaveric knee surgery sessions—and frequently delivers lectures at major orthopaedic meetings.