The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- clinical history taking
- physical examination
- review of medical records
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- biochemical analysis of blood
- lipid profile (HDL/LDL, cholesterol,
triglycerides, homocysteine) - coagulation tests (aPTT, PT, INR)
- inflammation indicators (CRP, ESR)
- kidney function tests (creatinine, urea)
- X-ray examination of the spine
- CT/MRI of the spine (if indicated, 650/1200 €)
- stem cell therapy (adipose tissue-derived stem cells)
- nursing services
- consultations of related specialists
- treatment by head physician and leading experts
- explanation of individual treatment plan
- written recommendations for follow-up
How program is carried out
During the first visit, the physician conducts a clinical examination and goes through the results of previous diagnostic procedures. After that, you will undergo the necessary additional examinations, such as the laboratory blood and urine tests, spine X-ray, MRI or CT scan of the spine. After a comprehensive assessment of the health condition, you will undergo stimulation therapy. This is an injection of drugs that increase the number of active stem cells in the body.
After this, stem cells are harvested. Autologous (i.e. your own) adipose stem cells are most commonly used to treat the osteochondrosis. The obtained stem cells are processed with stimulating substances and cultivated in the laboratory. This allows to additionally increase their number and the effectiveness of the procedure.
The final stage of therapy is the introduction of stem cells in the spine using intra-articular and peri-articular injections, symptomatic therapy and subsequent medical follow-up. The maximum effect of the therapy is usually observed in 4-6 months. Treatment results last for several years. The exact prognosis depends on the clinical course of the disease, your age, individual peculiarities, concomitant therapy and other factors. During the final consultation, your physician will give you detailed recommendations for further follow-up and treatment.
Required documents
- Medical records
- X-ray examination, MRI/CT scan (if available)
Service
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About the department
According to the Focus magazine, the Department of Arthroplasty at the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne is one of the best medical facilities in Germany for knee and hip surgery!
The department offers a full range of medical services in the field of joint replacement surgery. An experienced team of orthopedists successfully performs knee and hip replacement surgery. Surgical options include partial and total arthroplasty, as well as revision joint replacement surgery. Patients after hip replacement surgery are offered a special accelerated mobility program called "Rapid Recovery". Before prescribing arthroplasty, the attending physician studies the patient's medical history and conducts a comprehensive diagnosis, the results of which determine the advisability of surgery. Arthroplasty is performed using minimally invasive techniques and computer-assisted navigation, providing patients with the desired result and a high degree of treatment safety. The department's surgeons have successfully performed tens of thousands of knee and hip replacements, so patients can trust them with their health.
The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Schmidt. The specialist has more than 30 years of clinical experience in the field of joint replacement surgery. During his practice, he has personally performed over 10,000 surgical procedures, including especially complex ones. Prof. Schmidt is one of the best arthroplasty specialists in Germany, whose exceptional professionalism is recognized by patients and the national and international medical communities.
The department enjoys the status of an Arthroplasty Center certified in accordance with EndoCert standards. This certification is only awarded to the best medical institutions in Germany specializing in joint replacement surgery. The department has accumulated impressive experience in the field of knee replacement surgery for patients with advanced stages of gonarthrosis. The pathology causes severe symptoms such as severe pain, stiffness in movement (in advanced stages, gonarthrosis may lead to complete immobilization and disability), lameness, and swelling in the area of the affected joint. Unfortunately, the symptoms of end-stage knee arthrosis are hardly amenable to conservative therapy, so the specialists of the department resort to surgery. The essence of arthroplasty is to replace the knee joint with an artificial prosthesis, which allows to restore mobility and eliminate pain. Depending on the severity of the knee joint damage, the patient may be indicated for partial or total joint replacement surgery. The operation is performed using minimally invasive techniques under local or general anesthesia; the duration of the surgical procedure is about 1.5-2 hours. After arthroplasty, it is recommended to undergo rehabilitation in a specialized center, because only an experienced rehabilitation specialist can help the patient to master the skills of walking with a prosthesis and consolidate the results of the operation. The department's orthopedists implant high-quality prostheses with a minimum life span of 20 years.
The department's team of doctors is also successful in hip replacement surgery. The operation is indicated for hip arthrosis (coxarthrosis), avascular necrosis of the femoral head, hip dysplasia, and periprosthetic fractures after primary arthroplasty. The above pathological conditions cause painful sensations in the joint and radiating pain (for example, in the groin or thigh), limited mobility, lameness, and thigh muscle atrophy. To eliminate them, painkillers, physiotherapy, intra-articular injections, and other therapeutic measures are used as first-line treatments. If these fail, partial or total hip replacement surgery is indicated. The specialists of the department perform arthroplasty with cementless and cemented fixation: the first option involves fixing the prosthesis by hammering it into the bone, it is most often indicated for young patients; cemented fixation uses a special polymer bone cement, since the patient's own bone tissue does not have sufficient density for reliable fixation of the prosthesis (this technique is usually used in elderly patients). Hip replacement surgery is performed in the department using minimally traumatic techniques that ensure minimal blood loss and the fastest possible restoration of mobility in the postoperative period. Return to full activity after hip arthroplasty takes 6-12 weeks, depending on the individual characteristics of the body.
The department's clinical focuses include the following:
- Partial and total knee arthroplasty
- Partial and total hip arthroplasty
- Revision knee and hip arthroplasty after primary prosthesis implantation
- Special postoperative recovery program after hip arthroplasty – "Rapid Recovery"
- Other medical services
Curriculum vitae
Higher Education and Professional Career
- 1976 - 1982 Medical studies, University of Cologne.
- 1982 Thesis defense, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne.
- 1994 Habilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne.
- 1997 Scholarship (USA, Canada, and UK) of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Societies of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery.
- 2001 Extraordinary Professorship, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne.
Professional Career
- 1983 Work in the Department of Sports Medicine, Bundeswehr Sports School Warendorf.
- 1984 Surgical clinical training, Maria-Hilf Hospital Bergheim.
- 1985 - 1989 Clinical training for board certification, Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Cologne.
- 1989 - 1998 Senior Physician, Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Cologne.
- 1999 - 2010 Medical Director, Sana Holy Trinity Hospital Cologne.
- 2004 - 2010 Attending Physician and Medical Director, ATOS MediaPark Clinic in Cologne.
- 2011 Opening of the Department of Arthroplasty at the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne.
- Since 2011 Medical Director, ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne; Head Physician of the Department of Arthroplasty at the same clinic.
- Since 2023 Deputy Medical Director, ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne.
Memberships in Professional Societies and Organizations
- German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU).
- Professional Association of German Orthopedists (BVOU).
- Association of South German Orthopedists (SOV).
- Examination Board of the Medical Association of the North Rhine.
Photo of the doctor: (c) ATOS Orthoparc Klinik Köln
About hospital
According to the prestigious German Focus magazine, the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne is one of the best medical facilities in Germany in the field of knee, hip, and shoulder surgery, as well as in the field of foot surgery and spinal surgery!
The clinic specializes in conservative and surgical treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies of any complexity. Of particular interest to the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne are such areas of orthopedics as knee and hip arthroplasty, arthroscopic interventions on large joints, treatment of foot and hand pathologies, treatment of sports injuries, treatment of osteoporosis, and conservative and surgical treatment of spinal diseases and injuries. The clinic's daily work is based on the principle of providing high-quality medical care, taking into account the individual needs of each patient. The clinic offers modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly qualified personnel. The specialists are attentive, responsive, and always ready to answer patients' questions, ensuring a comfortable stay and high-quality treatment.
Only highly effective methods are used during the therapeutic process. Conservative therapy (for example, treatment with tablets, intra-articular injections, physiotherapy, or massage) is always used as first-line treatment; the decision to perform surgery is made only when conservative methods fail. Surgical procedures are performed in high-tech operating rooms. Doctors almost always use sparing minimally invasive and arthroscopic techniques, which significantly shorten the postoperative recovery period. After knee and hip replacement surgery, patients are offered a unique Rapid Recovery program.
The ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne has been successfully operating for several decades, during which time it has managed to take a leading position among orthopedic centers in the national healthcare system. The clinic's specialists regularly treat many patients from abroad, which testifies to the excellent reputation of the medical institution in the international medical arena. The clinic strictly adheres to hygiene and safety standards. The doctors are guided by the current clinical protocols and recommendations of the German Society for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) and the German Society for Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery (DGOOC). Great importance is attached to understanding the individual needs of patients and treating them with humanity and respect.
Photo: (с) depositphotos
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patients at the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne stay in comfortable single and double rooms decorated in bright colors. The standard patient room includes an automatically adjustable bed with an orthopedic mattress, a nightstand, a table, a chair, a telephone, and a TV. The patient rooms are also equipped with lockers for personal belongings. Each patient room has an ensuite bathroom with a shower and toilet.
The clinic has a pleasant and calm atmosphere, which contributes to the positive attitude of the patients and their rapid recovery.
Meals and Menus
The clinic offers delicious and balanced meals three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meals are provided by renowned international catering company SV Group with the participation of professional nutritionists.
If, for some reason, you cannot eat all the products, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff of your dietary preferences prior to the start of your treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Toilet
Shower
Wi-Fi
TV
Accompanying person
Your accompanying person may stay with you in your patient room or at the hotel of your choice during the inpatient program.
Hotel
You may stay at the hotel of your choice during the outpatient program. Our managers will support you for selecting the best option.