Department of Adult and Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Foot Surgery - Municipal Hospital Karlsruhe

About the Department of Adult and Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Foot Surgery at Municipal Hospital Karlsruhe

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopedic Surgery, Hand and Foot Surgery at the Municipal Hospital Karlsruhe offers the full range of modern services to the patients with musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. The key areas of specialization include conservative and surgical treatment of injuries and degenerative changes in the limbs, joints, pelvis and spine. The department is certified by the German Trauma Society (DGU) and has an SAV certificate, which indicates the excellent achievements of the medical facility in the treatment of injuries of any severity. The department performs most surgical interventions using minimally invasive and endoscopic surgical techniques, thanks to which the patients can regain their mobility and return to their usual daily life in the shortest possible time. The department's experienced surgeons perform more than 6,000 operations annually, including particularly complex ones. About 3,000 inpatients and more than 20,000 outpatients receive medical care here every year. The department has 90 beds. The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Christof Müller.

The department is the leading interregional Trauma Center in North Baden, therefore it has unique experience and the highest qualifications in the treatment of patients with severe and multiple injuries. The Central Emergency Care Unit guarantees multidisciplinary and competent care for the patients with minor and severe injuries. Both adults and children can receive medical care here.

The priority focus of the department's clinical activity is the treatment of diseases of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints. For this purpose, arthroscopic surgery is widely used – minimally invasive intra-articular interventions. The department also successfully performs joint replacement surgery. When performing joint replacement surgery, the department's specialists use the very latest and proven surgical implantation techniques, as well as high-quality prostheses from well-known world manufacturers. Computer navigation allows the doctors to perform operations with maximum accuracy, while minimally invasive techniques ensure sparing surgery and a rapid rehabilitation. In addition to the total joint replacement with an artificial prosthesis, the department's surgeons also perform technically complex revision interventions, which are sometimes required during the long-term use of the implanted endoprosthesis and its wear.

The department also performs all modern types of interventions to restore cartilage tissue. Microfracturing and autologous chondrocyte transplantation using special matrices are among the most popular. The interventions are performed arthroscopically, usually under local anesthesia. Both therapeutic techniques help the doctors to effectively eliminate cartilage defects, thereby alleviating pain and ceasing degenerative processes in the joints.

The specialists have more than 10 years of experience in the field of surgical treatment of spinal pathologies. The doctors most often deal with degenerative spinal changes and injuries caused by accidents. With appropriate indications, a sparing thoracoscopic technique is used during the surgical treatment. The range of operations varies from spinal fusion to intervertebral disc replacement in young patients.

The department also includes the Section of Physiotherapy, whose specialists carry out physiotherapy procedures immediately after operations, as well as on an outpatient basis. Such an approach allows the doctors to achieve a rapid mobilization of the patient after the orthopedic surgical procedure.

The department's medical team provides each patient with highly competent medical assistance, pays personal attention and care, and creates the most comfortable conditions for their stay. The specialists strive to find an optimal solution for the patient and provide him with the most sparing treatment.

The department's main clinical focuses include:

• Traumatology
  • Treatment of injuries of any severity in adults and children (in the certified Center of the German Trauma Society)
• Orthopedic surgery
  • Arthroscopic interventions on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints
  • Primary and revision knee, hip and shoulder replacement surgery
  • Corrective surgery and follow-up interventions after accidents and injuries
  • Surgical treatment of spinal diseases
    • Spinal fusion
    • Intervertebral disc replacement surgery
  • Surgical treatment of shoulder diseases
    • Treatment of impingement syndromes
    • Treatment of calcifying tendinitis
    • Treatment of rotator cuff tears
    • Treatment of shoulder instability
  • Surgical treatment of knee diseases with a focus on the correction of cartilage defects
    • Microfracture surgery
    • Autologous chondrocyte transplantation using special matrices
• Hand surgery
  • Treatment of congenital and acquired hand diseases or injuries in adults and children
    • Treatment of Dupuytren's contracture
    • Treatment of finger arthrosis 
    • Treatment of ganglion
    • Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
    • Treatment of fractures and other traumatic injuries
• Foot surgery
  • Treatment of congenital and acquired foot diseases or injuries in adults and children
    • Hallux valgus repair
    • Hallux rigidus repair
    • Treatment of flat feet
    • Treatment of ankle dislocations and fractures
    • Treatment of heel spurs
• Other medical services

Photo of the doctor: (c) Städtische Klinikum Karlsruhe