The program includes:
- Initial presentation in the clinic
- clinical history taking
- physical examination
- review of medical records
- laboratory tests:
- complete blood count
- general urine analysis
- biochemical analysis of blood
- indicators of inflammation (CRP, ESR)
- indicators of blood coagulation
- X-ray examination of the knee
- CT scan of the knee
- preoperative care
- endoprosthesis replacement
- symptomatic treatment
- control examinations
- physiotherapeutic procedures
- orthopedic appliances
- the cost of essential medicines and materials
- nursing services
- full hospital accommodation
- explanation of future recommendations
How program is carried out
Preliminary preparation for surgery: quitting smoking and drinking alcohol 2 weeks before surgery; cancelling non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen); cancelling anticoagulants (warfarin); normalization of body mass, if possible.
Preoperative examination, including consultation with an anesthesiologist and necessary related specialists. X-ray examination and MRI of the knee joints are performed. The examination takes 1-2 days.
Surgical knee endoprosthesis replacement. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and lasts for about 2 hours.
Postoperative care. During the first day after the intervention the patient stays in the intensive care unit, under round-the-clock medical supervision. After that, with a smooth course of the postoperative period, the patient is transferred to a regular ward and the drains are removed. The range of motion expands gradually, from light toes movements to walking. Walking with the use of walking aids is allowed in 3-5 days after the operation. Normal walking without the use of walking aids (crutches, cane) will become possible in 6-12 weeks.
Finally, the attending physician will evaluate the results of control examinations, schedule the date of discharge from the hospital and 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
The Department of Adult and Pediatric Orthopedics, Traumatology at the Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach is part of the specialized Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders, whose medical team consists of highly qualified orthopedists, traumatologists, and spinal surgeons. The department offers modern diagnostics and treatment of the entire range of musculoskeletal diseases. The department's field of competence includes the treatment of injuries of varying severity. The therapeutic options cover both conservative measures and surgical interventions, which are mainly performed using sparing minimally invasive techniques. The treatment concept is based on the comprehensive approach – from the use of conservative methods to physiotherapeutic procedures the day after surgery. The Head Physician of the department is Dr. med. Thomas Kruppa.
Of particular interest to the department's orthopedists is joint replacement surgery, particularly the knee and hip endoprosthetics. Most of these operations are performed using minimally invasive techniques, which allow the patient to restore mobility in the shortest possible time and return to his everyday life. Only high-quality endoprostheses from leading manufacturers are used in clinical practice.
An experienced team of trauma doctors is available in the department around the clock. In addition to emergency medical care, the specialists in this field have excellent qualifications in planned complex operations on the joints. The key attention in the field of traumatology is paid to the treatment of bone fractures of varying severity in adults and children, the surgical correction of abnormal bone adhesion after fractures, septic bone tissue surgery, etc.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Orthopedics
- Diagnostics and treatment of diseases of large joints (joint-preserving interventions and joint replacement surgery)
- Surgical treatment of foot diseases
- Arthroscopic interventions
- Hand surgery
- Surgical treatment of rheumatic lesions of bones and joints
- Diagnostics and treatment of orthopedic diseases in children
- Diagnostics and treatment of osteoporosis
- Minimally invasive interventions on the joints
- Revision interventions on the joints
- Special forms of diagnostics and therapy
- Sports medicine
- CT-guided infiltration and biopsy
- Bone and joint punctures
- Physiotherapy
- Balneotherapy
- Pain therapy
- Manual therapy
- Traumatology
- Diagnostics and treatment of bone fractures in adults and children
- Diagnostics and treatment of sports injuries
- Diagnostics and treatment of various injuries in children
- Emergency medical care, including for seriously injured patients
- Septic bone surgery for bone infections (osteomyelitis)
- Cartilage transplant
- Other diagnostic and therapeutic options
Curriculum vitae
Higher Education and Professional Career
- 1993 - 2000 Human medicine studies at the University of Hamburg. Internships abroad: University of Sydney in Australia and University of Cape Town in South Africa.
- 2001 - 2002 Assistant Physician, Department of Orthopedics, Hospital Asklepios Barmbek Hamburg; Research Fellow, Technical University of Hamburg.
- 2003 - 2006 Assistant Physician, Center for Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, Section of Sports Trauma Surgery, Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.
- 2006 Doctorate, Philipps University of Marburg. Thesis subject: "Stability of proximally fixed hip arthroplasty – a biomechanical study."
- 2007 - 2009 Senior Physician, Department of Orthopedics, Klagenfurt Hospital, Austria.
- 2010 - 2011 Senior Physician, Department of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg.
- 2012 - 2016 Senior Physician, Department of Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Arthroplasty Center, Hospital Augustinerinnen Cologne.
- 2017 - 2020 Head of the Maximum Care Arthroplasty Center, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, St. Augustin Hospital Dueren.
- Since 2021 Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach.
Certificates
- Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Certificate from the German Association for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (DVSE).
- Advanced Trauma Life Support Certificate, University Hospital RWTH Aachen.
- Healthcare Management Certificate, Mibeg Institute in Cologne.
Clinical Qualifications
- Board Certification in Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics.
- Qualification in Special Orthopedic Surgery.
- Qualification in Special Trauma Surgery.
- Qualification in Sports Medicine.
- Qualification in Manual Medicine.
- Theoretical Foundations in Radiation Protection.
- Technical Expert for the Certification of Arthroplasty Centers.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU).
- German Society for Endoprosthetics (AE).
- German Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (DVSE).
- Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery Working Group (AGA).
- Association of Head Orthopedic and Traumatologists (VLOU).
Photo of the doctor: (c) Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach
About hospital
The Hospital Neuwerk, which is in Moenchengladbach, has over 10 specialized operating departments. Located in the northern part of the city, the hospital has been a coordination center for the region for many years. The hospital has 310 comfortable beds for ist patients. Due to a wide range of medical services, the hospital offers modern medicine and human care. True to the motto: "Groundbreaking. Human. Strong". The hospital is staffed with excellent professional physicians. A great team of medical specialists makes examinations, diagnosis and prescribes treatment plans for their patients every day.
The hospital has innovative equipment, progressive operating rooms, which use the very latest surgical techniques, modern equipment for the diagnostics and a comfortable inpatient facility, where the medical staff takes care of the patients throughout the entire treatment period. All this contributes to the prestige of the hospital – 26,200 outpatients and about 15,000 inpatients are treated here annually.
It is worth noting that the hospital is among the 3 leading medical facilities in Germany, where the O-arm neuronavigation system is widely used. O-arm is a high-resolution computed tomography, which allows the doctors to obtain detailed intraoperative 3D images of the brain and spinal cord in real time and to perform the operations as accurate as possible. The O-arm system is successfully used during brain surgeries, in the treatment of intervertebral hernias and spinal interventions, during the rehabilitation period after implant placement, as well as to control the consolidation of complex fractures.
Photo: (c) Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach
Accommodation in hospital
Patients rooms
The patient rooms of the Hospital Neuwerk Moenchengladbach are equipped in accordance with German standards. The patient room includes a shower and a toilet. The beds are equipped with comfortable orthopedic mattresses. The bedside table can be easily turned into a table. The room also includes a table and chairs for receiving visitors. In addition, the room contains a TV, and the Internet is available on request. You can choose a single or double room. Your accompanying person can stay in the single room with you. The double room is shared with another patient of the same gender.
The enhanced comfort rooms are equipped with a safety box, a bathrobe, unlimited Wifi, a fridge and upholstered furniture. The bathrooms have a walk-in wellness shower, towels and hygiene articles. The lounge of the comfort station invites you to linger and offers fresh snacks as well as coffee and tea.
Meals and Menus
The patient and the accompanying person are offered a daily choice of three menus. If you are on a specific diet for any reason, you will be offered an individual menu. Please inform the medical staff about your dietary preferences prior to the treatment.
Further details
Standard rooms include:
Religion
Religious services can be provided upon request.
Accompanying person
Your companion may stay with you in your room or at a hotel of your choice during the inpatient program.
Hospital accommodation
You may stay at the clinic hotel during the outpatient program.
Hotel
You may stay at the hotel of your choice during the outpatient program. Our manager will help you choose the best option.