The Success Journey
Dr. Samih Tarabichi: Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon | Expert in Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery
Dr. Samih Tarabichi is a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon in Dubai specializing in knee and hip replacement, minimally invasive joint replacement, and complex revision knee surgery. With more than four decades of experience, he has performed over 30,000 joint replacement procedures for patients from the UAE and around the world.
His career combines clinical practice with orthopedic research and innovation. Dr. Tarabichi has contributed to the development of knee replacement techniques and implant solutions, holds eight international patents related to joint replacement and revision surgery, and has authored and contributed to scientific research focused on improving joint replacement outcomes.
This page presents Dr. Tarabichi’s professional journey, medical training, clinical experience, research, patents, scientific contributions, and role in advancing joint replacement surgery in the Middle East.
The Master of Knee Replacement
Dr. Samih Tarabichi at a Glance
- 40+ Years of Orthopedic Experience
- 30,000+ Joint Replacement Procedures
- 47 Scientific Publications
- Persona Knee Development Team
- 8 International Patents
- Founder & Chairman — ICJR Middle East
- North American Board Certification
Orthopedic certification through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery since 1988.
Education, Medical Training & Board Certification:
Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s medical career began at Damascus University, where he completed his medical degree in 1978. He subsequently moved to the United States to continue his postgraduate medical training and research.
His postgraduate training included:
University of Illinois, USA — Research Fellowship
Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio — Surgical Residency
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio — Graduate studies
McGill University, Montreal, Canada — Orthopedic Surgery Residency, completed in 1987
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada — Certification in Orthopedic Surgery, 1988
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery — Board Certification, 1990
This combination of medical education, surgical training, orthopedic specialization, and North American board certification established the clinical foundation for Dr. Tarabichi’s subsequent career in joint replacement surgery in the United States and the Middle East.
Clinical Expertise in Knee & Hip Surgery
Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s clinical practice focuses on joint reconstruction and the surgical treatment of complex knee and hip conditions. His principal areas of expertise include:
- Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement — Knee replacement techniques focused on restoring function while minimizing disruption to the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the knee.
- Revision Knee Replacement — Assessment and surgical management of failed or problematic knee replacements, including complex revision and re-revision cases.
- Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement — Hip replacement surgery using tissue-preserving surgical approaches with the objective of restoring mobility and joint function.
- ACL Reconstruction — Minimally invasive reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament for patients with symptomatic knee instability following ACL injury.
Treatment recommendations are based on the patient’s diagnosis, joint condition, functional limitations, medical status, and individual treatment goals.
Research & Scientific Contributions:
Research has been an integral part of Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s work in joint replacement surgery. His scientific contributions have focused particularly on improving the function, surgical technique, implant positioning, and clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty.
His principal areas of research include:
- Deep Flexion After Knee Replacement — Research into the surgical and implant-related factors that may influence the ability to achieve high degrees of knee flexion following total knee arthroplasty.
Related research: Achieving Deep Flexion After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty - Knee Function in Middle Eastern and Asian Patients — Research examining the biomechanical and functional demands of high-flexion activities such as kneeling, prayer, cross-legged sitting, and squatting.
Related research: Knee Kinematics of High-Flexion Activities of Daily Living Performed by Male Muslims in the Middle East - Implant Positioning and the Painful Knee Replacement — Research evaluating implant positioning and rotation as potential contributors to pain and stiffness following total knee arthroplasty.
Related research: Evaluation of Tibial Component Rotation in Painful Total Knee Arthroplasties by MRI Enhanced with Metal Artifact Reduction Technique - Complications & Revision Knee Replacement — Research investigating complications following total knee arthroplasty, including distinctive patterns of periprosthetic fracture and factors relevant to their diagnosis and management.
Related research: A Unique Pattern of Peri-Prosthetic Fracture Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: The Insufficiency Fracture - Pain Management & Functional Recovery — Research evaluating strategies to improve postoperative pain control, reduce opioid requirements, and support mobility following total knee arthroplasty.
Related research: Enhanced Pain Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Analysis on Intraoperative Cryo-Neurolysis
Dr. Tarabichi has authored and co-authored research across several decades, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, conference work, and studies involving total knee arthroplasty and joint reconstruction.
Patents & Innovation in Joint Replacement
Innovation in joint replacement has been a significant part of Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s career alongside his clinical and research work. He has contributed to the development of orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and technologies designed to address challenges encountered during knee replacement and revision surgery.
Dr. Tarabichi holds eight international patents related to joint replacement and orthopedic surgery, with innovations spanning areas such as:
- Knee Implant Design — Development of prosthetic concepts intended to reproduce more physiological knee movement and support functional knee flexion.
Selected patent: Physiological Total Knee Implant — US7094259B2 - Revision Knee Replacement Solutions — Development of implant concepts addressing stability and reconstruction requirements encountered in complex knee replacement and revision procedures.
Selected patent: Revision joint replacement device and method — US11134958B2 - Soft-Tissue Balancing During Knee Replacement — Development of surgical instrumentation designed to measure flexion and extension gaps under controlled soft-tissue tension during total knee arthroplasty.
- Tibial Component Design — Continued work on the geometry and functional design of tibial components used in total knee prostheses.
These innovations reflect the relationship between Dr. Tarabichi’s surgical practice, research, and implant development, with clinical challenges encountered in joint replacement contributing to the development of new orthopedic concepts and technologies.
High-Flexion Knee Replacement & Persona Knee Implant Development
One of the central themes of Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s clinical and research career has been restoring greater knee flexion after total knee replacement, particularly for patients whose daily activities require kneeling, squatting, sitting on the floor, or performing prayer.
Through his clinical work with patients from the Middle East and Asia, Dr. Tarabichi identified functional requirements that were not always adequately addressed by earlier generations of knee implants. This clinical experience contributed to his research into deep flexion, knee kinematics, implant design, and the anatomical differences that can influence total knee replacement.
Collaboration with Zimmer and the Persona Knee
Dr. Tarabichi has worked with Zimmer in knee implant development and was a member of the development team involved with the Persona Knee implant system. His contribution formed part of a broader international collaboration between orthopedic surgeons, engineers, and implant designers focused on developing knee replacement systems that better account for anatomical variation, implant fit, knee function, and range of motion.
His involvement in implant development was supported by clinical research examining the functional demands of high-flexion activities and the outcomes of total knee replacement in patient populations where activities such as kneeling, prayer, squatting, and floor-level sitting are particularly important.
Related research: Achieving Deep Flexion After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Related research: Knee Kinematics of High-Flexion Activities of Daily Living Performed by Male Muslims in the Middle East
This combination of clinical observation, scientific research, and implant development has remained a recurring theme throughout Dr. Tarabichi’s work in knee replacement surgery.
Orthopedic Education & ICJR Middle East
Beyond clinical practice and research, Dr. Samih Tarabichi has been actively involved in orthopedic education and the exchange of scientific knowledge among surgeons in the Middle East and internationally.
Dr. Tarabichi is the Founder and Chairman of the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction Middle East (ICJR ME), an educational orthopedic congress established in the region to bring together surgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals to discuss developments in joint reconstruction and orthopedic surgery.
Through ICJR Middle East, international and regional faculty participate in scientific lectures, case-based discussions, surgical education, workshops, and sessions covering areas such as:
- Primary and revision knee arthroplasty
- Hip arthroplasty
- Complex joint reconstruction
- Sports medicine
- Orthopedic surgical techniques
- Emerging technologies and research in orthopedic care
Dr. Tarabichi’s role in ICJR Middle East reflects a broader commitment to sharing clinical experience, encouraging scientific discussion, and supporting continuing orthopedic education across the region.
Explore the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction Middle East →
Professional Profiles & Verified Sources:
Dr. Samih Tarabichi’s clinical experience, research, professional credentials, patents, and contributions to joint replacement surgery can be explored through the following professional and scientific sources:
- ResearchGate — Scientific Research Profile
View Dr. Tarabichi’s publications, research activity, citations, and scientific contributions. - American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
Professional board certification in orthopedic surgery in the United States. - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Orthopedic surgery certification following his postgraduate orthopedic training in Canada. - Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Professional licensing record as a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon in Dubai. - Emirates Hospitals Group — Consultant Profile
Current clinical profile detailing Dr. Tarabichi’s orthopedic practice and areas of specialization in Dubai. - Google Patents — Patent Records
Independent patent records documenting Dr. Tarabichi’s work as an inventor in knee replacement implants, surgical instrumentation, and orthopedic technology. - ICJR Middle East
Official congress platform documenting Dr. Tarabichi’s role as Founder and Chairman and his involvement in orthopedic education and scientific exchange.
Explore More
Scientific Publications — Explore Dr. Tarabichi’s published research in knee and joint replacement surgery.
International Patents — Explore Dr. Tarabichi’s patent portfolio and contributions to orthopedic innovation.