Founded in 1896, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna has been an international reference point in the development of orthopaedics for more than 40 years: the high level of care it offers is the result of its constant scientific research activity and the translation of results into clinical practice.

The integration between departments and laboratories allows to have a complete vision of pathologies and to experiment new opportunities of treatment.

Since 1981 Rizzoli Institute is a Scientific Research and Health Care Institute, recognized by the Ministry of Health for its high standard research work and for its impact at international level. It is also an integrating part of the regional health care system for Emilia-Romagna. It is a teaching hospital, part of University of Bologna, with courses on Orthopaedics, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Engineering and Architecture, with trainees and fellows form all over the world. Its department of Research, Innovation and Technology is part of the regional High Technology Network.

The cell and musculoskeletal tissue bank of Emilia-Romagna is the first founded in Italy.

In 2012 the department Rizzoli-Sicilia was opened in Bagheria, Palermo.

Regenerative and reparative medicine, stem cells,  tissue engineering, design and 3D printing of personalized prostheses, innovative surgical techniques for complex operations, ligaments and cartilage reconstruction, degenerative, inflammatory, infective and genetic diseases, multi-specialized care of bone tumours, and the treatment of paediatric orthopaedic pathologies are just some of the fields Rizzoli operates in.