>250
International medical and scientific publications on the subjects of arthroplasty, fractures, sports injuries, cartilage, knee surgery, and traumatology.
An orthopaedic surgeon and sports traumatology specialist
Professor Cavaignac is a leading orthopaedic surgeon and sports traumatology specialist. As an expert in his field, he has written over 250 medical and scientific publications on arthroplasty, fractures,sports injuries, cartilage, knee, and trauma surgery.
He practices at the University Hospital of Toulouse, specifically at the University Sports Clinic within the Pierre Paul Riquet Hospital. In addition to his teaching at the Faculty of Medicine, he participates in courses for professional societies such as the SFA, ESSKA, and SOFCOT. Since May 2022, he has been a board member of ESSKA (European Society of SportsTraumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy) as treasurer. He is an active member of the medical tourism sector, treating patients from all over the world. Prof. Cavaignac works mainly in Toulouse and Andorra, offering high-quality care and personalised support foreach patient.
His clinical activity, which includes more than 1000 operations per year, is exclusively dedicated to knee surgery. A significant part of his practice involves sports traumatology, notably anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, doing more than 450 annually. His research activity is also focused on the knee, with over 150 publications in international journals.
Professor Cavaignac uses a personalised approach to offer surgery tailored to each patient. In degenerative cases, his goal is to analyse anatomical variability to propose custom-made joint implants. In sports traumatology, he aims to understand why the injury happened and how to best treat it. This expertise has made Prof. Cavaignac a sought-after referral surgeon for a wide range of sports clubs. In soccer, he works with teams like Toulouse FC, Rodez Aveyron Football and Pau FC. His influence extends significantly into the rugby world, where he’s trusted by the French Rugby Sevens National Team and numerous prominent clubs including Toulouse Olympique XIII, Stade Toulousain, Castres Olympiques, Section Paloise, USAP, CA Brive Corrèze and US Montauban. This diverse portfolio of top-tier teams across both sports underscores his reputation in treating and preventing sports-related injuries.
He started the PCO initiative, which a new practical approach teaching orthopaedics.
Most common surgical procedures
as a sports and knee surgeon
Professor Etienne Cavaignac is a sports and knee surgeon who has trained in the best French and international hospitals to treat pathologies related to sport and knee injuries or osteoarthritis. He uses cutting-edge surgical techniques and is committed to giving his patient personalised care, ensuring the best possible result for eachperson.
Throughout his career, Professor Cavaignac has refined his skills in several key areas of knee surgery.
He is an expert in :
Anterior cruciate ligament surgery, which consists of reconstruction of ruptured ACL to restore the knee’s stability and function.
Multiligament injuries: He is also trained to manage complex cases where multiple ligaments are injured.
Knee replacement: Cutting-edge techniques are used to improve mobility and reduce pain for patients with osteoarthritis or other degenerative conditions.
Revision of knee arthroplasty: If there is an issue with an existing knee implant, Professor Cavaignac can treat it, ensuring long-term success and patient satisfaction.
+ 1000
surgeries/year
> 250
publications
Extensive experience as a sport medicine and orthopaedic surgeon
With nearly 1000 surgeries performed each year, Professor Etienne Cavaignac is an award-winning sport medicine and orthopaedic surgeon. He has been a hospital practitioner since 2012 and has 12 years of experience in knee surgery, meniscus surgery, ACL reconstruction, and knee replacement.
In 2015, he obtained the Swiss FMH board certification in orthopaedic surgery and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system, after working for one year at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). In addition, his basic and clinical research has earned him numerous awards and recognitions.
Find out more about Professor Etienne Cavaignac by reading his resume or his interview published in the Occitania regional sports journal.
Fields of expertise
Professor Cavaignac offers specialised care as both a sports injury surgeon and a knee specialist. Each area encompasses a range of advanced surgical techniques and treatments designed to address specific patient needs.
Knee surgery
The knee is a complex joint that must be both stable and mobile. Ligament or meniscus injuries, osteoarthritis, and patellar instability are typical conditions that may require surgery to restore optimal knee function. Healing these conditions requires full patient adherence to the care protocol.
Our knee surgery services are designed to address a wide spectrum of knee conditions, ensuring patients receive the most effective and tailored treatments. As a sports and orthopaedic surgeon, Professor Cavaignac has an expertise in various procedures, whether the knee was damaged during sports, work or a daily activity.
Sports injury surgeon
Being a sports medicine surgeon involves the management of sports-related injuries to ensure the best possible recovery for athletes after muscle or joint injuries. Through personalised surgical techniques and rehabilitation advice, the surgeon strives to help athletes return to their sport as quickly as possible.
Professor Cavaignac employs minimally invasive techniques, when appropriate, to reduce the recovery time and enhance outcomes. This includes arthroscopic surgery for joint injuries and reconstructive procedures for damaged ligamentsand tendons.
Orthopaedic and sports surgeons such as Prof. Cavaignac offer a number of treatments adapted to each patient and use cutting-edge technologies to make sure they receive the care they deserve.
Awards
Thesis prize (gold medal) 2012. Paul Sabatier University
2nd GECO Roland Petit prize 2012
Rieunau Prize 2013 for research in orthopaedic surgery.
SHAM prize for risk prevention in orthopedics. SOFCOT 2013
Best communication award. SFA 2015
Bronze medal in the 2016 French College of Orthopaedic and Traumatological Surgeons (CFCOT) entrance exam.
Best communication award. SOFCOT 2017
Best ePoster ESSKA 2018
ACL Study Group + VJSM Best Video Award 2024
The Toulouse University Hospital ranked #1 for knee ligament surgeries – 2024
Blockbuster Award 2025 by the Video Journal of Sports Medicine for “How Biofeedback with Surface EMG Can Contribute to the Diagnosis and Treatment of AMI in the Knee”
Pr Cavaignac works at Toulouse University Hospital, a facility that meets all the quality and validation criteria of the highest international standards. Our center is regularly voted best hospital in France.
Within this hospital, there is a renowned facility for the treatment of sports-related pathologies, the Clinique Universitaire du Sport.
