Prof. Michael Rindom Krogsgaard

Prof. Michael Rindom Krogsgaard is one of Denmark's foremost orthopedic surgeons, specialising in sports medicine, knee surgery, and shoulder surgery at Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen. Over a career spanning more than 28 years, he has built an international reputation for the surgical management of ligamentous injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, and for his substantial contributions to research and registry science in orthopedic surgery.

After completing specialist training in orthopedic surgery in Denmark, Prof. Krogsgaard pursued advanced training in arthroscopic and sports surgery techniques at leading European centres. He developed particular expertise in ACL reconstruction — both primary and revision procedures — as well as meniscal surgery, shoulder stabilisation, and cartilage restoration procedures. His practice serves a broad patient population, from recreational athletes seeking return to sport after injury to high-performance professional athletes requiring precision surgical care.

In addition to his clinical work, Prof. Krogsgaard has played a central role in establishing and maintaining the Danish National Knee Ligament Registry, one of Europe's important national registries for ACL injuries and reconstruction outcomes. Data from this registry have underpinned numerous peer-reviewed publications examining surgical technique, graft choice, rehabilitation protocols, and long-term outcomes including the risk of early-onset osteoarthritis following knee ligament injury.

Prof. Krogsgaard is also a respected teacher and educator, training the next generation of orthopedic surgeons in arthroscopic techniques. He has served in leadership roles within the Danish Orthopaedic Society and contributes regularly to European surgical education programmes through ESSKA.

Prof. Krogsgaard completed his medical degree (MD) at the University of Copenhagen, graduating with distinction. He undertook core surgical and orthopedic training at Copenhagen teaching hospitals before pursuing advanced specialisation in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. He was awarded his PhD for research examining the biomechanics and healing biology of knee ligament reconstruction — work that formed the scientific foundation of his subsequent clinical research programme.

He holds the European Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (FEBOT), awarded by the European Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, which recognises specialists who have demonstrated knowledge and competence meeting European-level standards. International training visits to leading knee surgery centres in Germany, Sweden, and the United States broadened his surgical repertoire and exposed him to high-volume arthroscopic practice environments.

Prof. Krogsgaard holds an academic appointment at the University of Copenhagen and supervises postgraduate research students examining ACL biology, rehabilitation science, and registry-based outcome analysis. He is a board-certified specialist in orthopedic surgery within the Danish specialist training framework.

Prof. Krogsgaard's principal area of clinical expertise is the surgical management of knee injuries, with a particular focus on ACL reconstruction using both hamstring tendon autograft and bone-patellar tendon-bone techniques. He performs both primary ACL reconstructions and complex revision procedures in patients who have experienced graft failure or re-injury, and he is skilled in addressing associated pathologies including meniscal tears, cartilage defects, and multi-ligament injuries.

In the shoulder, Prof. Krogsgaard specialises in arthroscopic and open stabilisation procedures for recurrent shoulder dislocation and instability (Bankart repair, Latarjet procedure), rotator cuff repair for partial and full-thickness tears, and acromioplasty. His surgical approach is guided by detailed biomechanical understanding of each patient's anatomy and functional demands.

Cartilage restoration procedures — including microfracture, osteochondral autograft transfer (OATS), and matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) — are also within his clinical scope, offered to appropriately selected patients with focal cartilage defects of the knee. He works closely with physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation teams to optimise postoperative recovery and return-to-sport outcomes.

Prof. Krogsgaard has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers in journals including the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA), Acta Orthopaedica, and the British Journal of Sports Medicine. His research spans the full spectrum of sports orthopedic surgery, from laboratory-based biomechanical investigations to large registry-based outcome studies.

Key research themes include the comparative effectiveness of ACL reconstruction graft types, the incidence and predictors of re-rupture following primary ACL reconstruction in Danish athletes, the long-term risk of osteoarthritis after ACL injury, and the biomechanics of shoulder instability. His work with the Danish National Knee Ligament Registry has produced influential population-level data on ACL surgery outcomes that have informed practice guidelines in Scandinavia and beyond.

He has also contributed substantially to research on shoulder instability biomechanics and surgical decision-making, with studies examining the outcomes of arthroscopic versus open stabilisation procedures and the anatomical factors predicting surgical failure. His research is regularly presented at ESSKA and ISAKOS international congresses.

Prof. Krogsgaard consults in Danish and English and welcomes referrals from international patients and sports medicine professionals seeking expert opinion on complex knee and shoulder conditions. Bispebjerg Hospital is a well-regarded teaching hospital in Copenhagen's university healthcare system and is experienced in receiving international patients for elective orthopedic procedures.

Patients from EU/EEA countries may apply for cross-border healthcare funding, and the hospital's orthopedic department can provide detailed cost estimates and pre-operative assessment coordination for international referrals. Video consultations for initial assessment and post-operative follow-up are available, making it practical for athletes and patients based outside Denmark to access Prof. Krogsgaard's expertise for treatment planning and surgical decision-making.

Rehabilitation protocols and post-operative care plans are provided in English, and coordination with the patient's home physiotherapy team can be arranged to ensure seamless continuity of care following surgery in Copenhagen.

Prof. Krogsgaard has been recognised by the Danish Orthopaedic Society (DOS) with its Research Award, presented to surgeons who have made outstanding contributions to orthopedic research in Denmark. He has received the ESSKA Award for Excellence, acknowledging his contributions to European sports surgery knowledge and education.

Bispebjerg Hospital has recognised his sustained academic contributions with its Academic Prize, awarded to faculty members whose research output reflects distinction in clinical science. He is a sought-after invited speaker at international congresses including ESSKA, ISAKOS, and the Nordic Orthopaedic Federation (NOF) annual meetings. His teaching contributions to surgical training programmes in Scandinavia and his editorial work for sports medicine journals further reflect his standing in the European orthopedic community.