Knee arthritis diagnosis in Schoen Clinic Duesseldorf

About the department

The Department of Knee and Hip Arthroplasty at the Schoen Clinic Duesseldorf specializes in performing partial and total knee and hip replacement surgery, as well as revision surgery to replace previously implanted prostheses. Such surgical procedures are most often indicated for patients suffering from hip arthrosis (coxarthrosis) and knee arthrosis (gonarthrosis). The department's highly qualified team of doctors regularly treats patients with clinical cases of varying complexity. Whenever possible, preference is given to partial joint replacement surgery that preserves the patient's own joint. Since 2021, the department has been certified as an Arthroplasty Centre (EndoCert certificate) by the German Society for Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery (DGOOC), which indicates compliance with high treatment standards and excellent therapeutic results. When performing knee and hip arthroplasty procedures, the department's doctors use minimally invasive surgical techniques and computer-assisted navigation systems. The department has also implemented a special postoperative recovery program, Schoen Klinik Endo Aktiv, with which patients can quickly restore their mobility and return to their everyday lives. The Head Physician of the department is Dr. med. Christoph Sardemann.

Hip arthrosis (coxarthrosis) is a progressive disease that causes the destruction of the cartilage tissue in the hip joint. The pathology is accompanied by severe pain and causes movement restrictions. The symptoms of coxarthrosis in the early stages can be well alleviated with the help of conservative treatments such as painkillers and physiotherapy. If such treatment is ineffective, arthroscopic surgery may be considered. This treatment option may help doctors delay the operation to replace the patient's own joint with a prosthesis for a certain period of time. Arthroplasty is a last-line treatment that may be indicated when other therapeutic methods have failed and the patient is still suffering from severe movement limitations and pain. Depending on the specific clinical case, the department's orthopedists perform partial or total hip replacement surgery. In the first case, surgeons replace only the femoral head, and in the second case, they replace the femoral head and neck, as well as the surface of the acetabulum. The department performs all hip replacement surgeries using minimally invasive techniques, thereby eliminating trauma to the muscular system. In most cases, spinal anesthesia is used during the operation. The department's surgeons perform hip replacement surgery with cementless or cemented fixation, with the optimal option being determined on an individual basis. Advanced navigation systems are used to ensure the most precise fixation of the endoprosthesis in the desired position. The surgeon selects the most suitable type of prosthesis for the patient at the stage of preparation for the operation, taking into account their individual needs and wishes. It is worth noting that the department's doctors work only with premium-quality endoprostheses from world-famous manufacturers, the results of which are included in the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD).

The department's orthopedic team also specializes in partial and total knee arthroplasty. The most common indication for such surgery is knee arthrosis (gonarthrosis), which causes progressive destruction of cartilage tissue. Should gonarthrosis be suspected, the department's doctors will study the patient's medical history and conduct an examination and imaging tests (X-ray, CT, and/or MRI). With diagnostic data, the specialists begin to develop a treatment regimen. At the early stages of the disease, the department's orthopedists use only a comprehensive conservative treatment regimen, including therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, and drug therapy. At the advanced stages of the pathological process, conservative measures are ineffective, so doctors most commonly perform partial or total knee replacement surgery. Whenever possible, the first option is preferred because such an operation involves the replacement of only the affected areas of the knee joint with a prosthesis, while total knee replacement involves replacing the entire joint with an artificial prosthesis. The department also performs knee arthroplasty using minimally invasive techniques under spinal anesthesia. Navigation systems are used during surgical procedures, with the help of which the surgeon can implant the prosthesis in the desired position with pinpoint accuracy. This approach eliminates the risk of postoperative complications and displacement of the prosthesis.

Thanks to performing hip and knee arthroplasty procedures using minimally invasive techniques, patients are back on their feet on the very day of surgery. In addition, the department successfully uses the unique postoperative recovery program called Schoen Klinik Endo Aktiv. The goal of this program is to restore the patient's full range of motion as quickly as possible and to ensure the patient's independence in everyday life. Most patients leave the hospital 4-5 days after surgery and can move on their own without assistance.

The department's clinical focuses include:

• Minimally invasive partial and total hip arthroplasty using advanced navigation systems
• Minimally invasive partial and total knee arthroplasty using advanced navigation systems
• Minimally invasive revision hip and knee arthroplasty with bone grafting
• Conservative and surgical treatment of periprosthetic fractures and bone fractures localized in close proximity to the prosthesis
• Conservative and surgical treatment of periprosthetic infections (in close collaboration with infectious disease specialists)
• Other medical services