Treatment of joints in Germany

Treatment of joints in Germany is an opportunity to receive effective medical care from world-famous specialists and a real chance to eliminate the disease completely. Germany is one of the top five countries in the field of orthopedics. The authoritative Focus publication regularly includes German hospitals in the TOP lists.

German clinics offer patients with pathologies and injuries of the musculoskeletal system conservative therapy, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation using advanced technologies.

More than 400,000 hip and knee replacement procedures are performed annually in Germany. Patients often turn to German doctors for revision surgeries after unsuccessful interventions in their home country. According to the German Association of Orthopedists, the treatment success rate in leading clinics exceeds 94%.

Many patients ask why it is worth going to Germany for joint treatment? According to Experts Medical, Germany is one of the best countries for joint treatment. Patients note the advantages of German orthopedics:

1. Fast and accurate diagnosis thanks to modern equipment and highly qualified doctors. A complete examination takes no more than 48 hours and can detect even microscopic damage to the joints.
2. Opportunity to get advice from the best specialists. For example, the Asklepios Clinic in Hamburg has a stellar team of orthopedists, including professors Mark Schulte, Johan Pihl, Axel Hilman.
3. A comprehensive treatment regimen aimed not at relieving symptoms, but at complete recovery. German orthopedists have extensive experience in treating patients with complex diagnoses. Even in the disease’s last stages, they achieve significant improvement and increase a person’s quality of life.
4. A wide range of minimally invasive surgical treatment methods minimize hospital stays, allowing patients to recover and return to everyday life quickly.
5. Individual postoperative rehabilitation using high-tech systems. It is aimed at rapid recovery after injury or surgery, preventing the development of complications and relapse.

In reviews of joint treatment in Germany, patients note the friendly and attentive attitude of the medical staff and the high level of service. They also point to stable prices for joint treatment in Germany, which the Ministry of Health controls.

According to WHO, diseases of the musculoskeletal system are among the most common, including:

• arthrosis – damage to the joint;
• arthritis – inflammation of the joint;
• coxarthrosis is a degenerative lesion of the hip joint.
• osteoarthritis – damage to the cartilage and bones in the joint.

Chronic circulatory disorders occur under the influence of degenerative-dystrophic changes, which is the leading cause of joint destruction.

Symptoms that require consultation with an orthopedist:

• pain of a different nature: acute, chronic, constant, paroxysmal, localized, or widespread;
• swelling and redness of the skin over the joint, a feeling of warmth, and increased temperature;
• stiffness that can last from a few minutes to several hours;
• clicking, crunching, or rubbing when moving;
• deformation and shortening of the limb due to the destruction of cartilage and bones;
• limited mobility and loss of joint function.

Among the main causes of illness, doctors at the Beta Clinic in Bonn name:

1. Degenerative-dystrophic changes. Most often they appear with age and are associated with wear and aging of cartilage tissue. For example, with osteoarthritis, there is a gradual destruction of cartilage and the formation of bone growth.
2. Infectious processes in which the infection enters the joint through the blood and lymph. A common cause is injury.
3. Autoimmune processes are characterized by disruption of the immune system and its attack on its tissues. For example, with rheumatoid arthritis, antibodies are formed against the synovial membrane; with psoriatic arthritis, antibodies are formed against the skin and nails.
4. Injuries that can damage cartilage, bone, ligaments or tendons. They can occur due to a fall, blow, incorrect posture, excessive load, or repetitive movements.
5. Chronic endocrinological diseases. Promote the deposition of various substances in joints. For example, with gout, uric acid is deposited; with chondrocalcinosis – calcium pyrophosphate; with hemochromatosis – iron.

Hereditary factors play an essential role in the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, for people whose relatives suffer from various pathologies, consultation with an orthopedist is extremely necessary.

One of the advantages of German orthopedics is a wide range of research methods using the latest generation medical equipment. In German clinics, patients are given a personal examination plan, which may include: arthroscopy, x-ray examination, CT, MRI, ultrasound, scintigraphy, blood test.

German specialists use the entire arsenal of the most effective techniques for treating joint diseases.

Conservative treatment methods

Used for moderate pain and minor cartilage damage. In addition to the usual medication and physiotherapy, the following are available in Germany:

1. Biological preparations with monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis. They allow you to stop the process of destruction of cartilage tissue even with 40% of joint damage.
2. Injections of preparations based on hyaluronic acid. They penetrate deep and act on the principle of joint lubrication. Thanks to this, the inflammatory process is eliminated, cartilage tissue is restored, and further destruction is prevented. The course of injections consists of several cycles.
3. Laser therapy. Especially recommended for patients with osteoarthritis. The cycle of procedures involves exposure to a red or infrared laser. Biological processes are stimulated in the human body, the regeneration of cells and tissues is enhanced, and the condition improves.

Surgical methods of treatment

In German hospitals, foreign patients are offered surgical treatment of the joint with its preservation or replacement. Surgical treatment of joints in Germany includes:

1. Arthroscopy. A modern minimally invasive method, during which the surgeon can carry out simultaneous diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment. The intervention is performed through small punctures into which the doctor inserts an arthroscope and microsurgical instruments. The doctor examines and washes the joint and removes damaged cartilage and tissue. Arthroscopy does not require hospitalization. According to German clinics, doctors use arthroscopy in more than 90% of cases.
2. Transplantation of cartilage cells. The essence of the procedure is to inject the patient’s cells. At the University Hospital Leipzig, doctors extract cells from a patient’s healthy cartilage tissue and grow them in a unique laboratory for 30 days. Once in the body, they replace damaged cells and stimulate healthy cartilage tissue growth.
3. Endoprosthetics. Replacement of the affected joint with an artificial one. Recommended after unsatisfactory conservative therapy or in case of significant damage. They use high-quality prostheses from well-known manufacturers in Germany: OHST (Germany) MATHYS (Switzerland). These are the most modern endoprostheses made of durable materials: titanium steel, ceramics, and polymers, lasting over 20 years. Depending on the indications, doctors can install a partial or complete denture.

Before the operation, the patient undergoes computer planning. The doctor determines the type of prosthesis and the method of its fixation (cement, cementless, hybrid).

In the early stages of the disease, German doctors managed to completely restore shoulder mobility and eliminate the cause of pain using conservative methods. In later stages, shoulder joint surgical treatment is performed in Germany using advanced minimally invasive techniques. The range of possible interventions includes:

• shoulder arthroscopy;
• reconstruction of ligaments;
• implantation of cartilage grafts;
• rheumatological operations;
• partial and complete shoulder arthroplasty.

Shoulder joint implantation in Germany is performed using a particular CAT computer system. It provides for an individual selection of a prosthesis that will allow the shoulder to function reliably and durable. The doctor carefully removes damaged cartilage and bones and replaces them with hypoallergenic, high-strength implants. The replacement duration is 30-90 minutes.

One of the leading specialists in treating the shoulder joint in Germany is Professor Christopher Ranger, chief physician of the department of orthopedics at the Northwest Clinic in Frankfurt. Has category D (performs operations of increased complexity). He has over 25 years of experience and is a member of prestigious international communities.

Most often, foreign patients turn to German specialists for hip replacement surgery. It is exposed to heavy loads every day, and damage is widespread. Replacement is indicated for the following pathologies:

• severe coxarthrosis with complete destruction of cartilage;
• congenital dysplasia;
• severe dislocations and fractures of the femoral neck in patients of all ages;
• aseptic necrosis of the femoral head;
• tumors, bone wear, and severe osteoporosis.

Treatment of the hip joint in Germany with endoprosthetics is performed mainly using minimally invasive methods using navigation systems.

The University Hospital of Düsseldorf is certified by the German Society of Orthopedic Surgery. Doctors try to preserve most of the patient’s bone and install a minimal implant. For the hip joint, prostheses with a short rod with a ceramic friction pair of cementless fixation are used. Doctors install the implant through a 5-8 cm incision, in contrast to the traditional method, in which the incision reaches 25 cm. This minimizes damage to surrounding tissues and speeds up the rehabilitation period.

The surgical intervention is planned using a 3D visualization system: doctors select the optimal shape and size of the prosthesis to determine its position, taking into account the anatomical structure of the hip.

After the operation, orthopedic rehabilitation is carried out, which allows you to recover and return to full mobility quickly.

Among the advanced surgical techniques that are used in the treatment of the hip joint in Germany:

1. AMIS technology. It involves the installation of a prosthesis through an incision in the front of the thigh, leaving the muscles and tendons intact. The procedure allows the patient to restore mobility almost painlessly and quickly.
2. Robotic technology MAKOplasty. Allows you to install the implant as accurately as possible (up to 0.1 mm). With this method, postoperative complications are practically not recorded, and a high service life of the endoprosthesis is noted.

Treatment of the hip joint is performed at a high level in Germany at the Helios Krefeld clinic. Surgeries for adults and children are performed by leading sports medicine specialist Clayton Craft. The doctor is a world expert in the field of surgery for severe injuries and the author of over 60 scientific papers. Since 2015, he has headed the Department of orthopedics and Traumatology. The clinic has a package offer that includes consultation and surgery with Clayton Craft.

The knee joint is one of the most loaded and susceptible to damage in the human body. Its diseases can lead to pain, inflammation, deformity, and impaired mobility. German orthopedists eliminate deformation processes, treat inflammatory and tumor diseases, and restore mobility and functionality of joints after injuries.

The Schon Clinic in Munich is recognized as one of Germany’s best hospitals for knee joint treatment. Leading German experts in the surgical treatment of shoulder, knee, and ankle joints work here: Sebastian Altenberger Professor Markus Wolter. They do:

1. Arthroscopy. During the intervention, a set of procedures is carried out to restore the statics of the knee joint:

• washed;
• perform surgery for a torn meniscus using an arthroscopic suture;
• eliminate roughness;
• remove exfoliated particles of bone and cartilage tissue.

Regenerative treatment of the knee joint in Germany using the MIBRAR method. The doctor injects an autoconcentrate from the patient’s cartilage tissue cells to stimulate the growth of new cartilage.

2. Endoprosthesis replacement using a minimally invasive method.

During the replacement, an important point is the accurate installation and fixation of the endoprosthesis. In this case, the knee will not experience stress from body weight in the future, and the prosthesis will not become loose. For this purpose, orthopedic surgeons at the Helios Clinic Berlin-Buch use the latest modification of a computer navigation system. This allows an endoprosthesis to be manufactured, taking into account a person’s anatomical characteristics and installed correctly.

With partial prosthetics, surgeons replace only damaged cartilage tissue. In this way, they preserve the patient’s tissue structures, reduce rehabilitation time, and improve the quality of life for 20-30 years.

Treatment of the knee joint in Germany at the Charite clinic in Berlin is carried out using unique proprietary technologies. The procedure involves the reconstruction and transplantation of bone cartilage and bone tissue. In addition, the clinic performs tendon reconstruction, knee osteotomy, arthroplasty, and other methods to restore function and prevent joint destruction.

The cost of joint treatment in Germany depends on many factors, mainly the degree of damage. Therefore, the doctor can announce the final price only after a thorough examination.

Estimated prices for joint treatment in Germany at the leading hospital in the field of orthopedics, University Hospital in Cologne:

• consultation with an orthopedist-traumatologist – from $400;
• stem cell therapy for arthrosis – from $6880-19300;
• hip replacement – from $12,300-16,900;
• knee joint replacement – from $10,400-13,100.

Experts Medical coordinators will provide more complete information about prices and how joints are treated in Germany. You can read patient reviews about joint treatment in Germany and the best doctors on the website. They will also offer the best deals based on the nature of the disease.

Coordinating doctors from the international company Experts Medical will provide free information on all the features of organizing a trip to Germany. In the shortest possible time, medical documents will be prepared for the patient, a clinic and attending physician will be selected, and an online consultation will be organized with him. Consultants will book air tickets and a hotel room and arrange a transfer if necessary.

The Experts Medical team pays great attention to the comfort and safety of its patients, so joint treatment in Germany will take place in the best centers under 24/7 supervision.