Hip Specialists Cologne (NRW): Prof Dr Joachim Schmidt and Dr Ahmet Ercan

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Prof Dr Joachim Schmidt and Dr Ahmet Ercan are specialists in hip surgery at the private clinic ATOS Orthoparc Klinik Köln.

The experienced team of specialists under the direction of Professor Schmidt and Dr Ercan successfully carries out hip surgeries and challenging hip endoprosthetics. The clinic has made it its mission to focus on the patient, with their personal history, individual movement, mobility restrictions, pain, and fears.

Coxarthrosis Treatment in Cologne: Individualized Approaches and State-of-the-Art Therapy

Coxarthrosis is a degenerative disease of the hip joint associated with the gradual wear of the protective cartilage layer over the joint-forming bone surfaces. A severe inflammatory stimulus acts on the bones, leading to severe pain, stiffness, and a protective posture.

Early diagnosis using X-ray images and clinical examinations is crucial to slow down the progressive wear of the cartilage surfaces in time.

To achieve this goal, Prof Dr Joachim Schmidt and Dr Ahmet Ercan at the ATOS Clinic in Cologne initially rely on conservative treatment options such as physiotherapy, painkillers, and weight reduction. Heavy stress on the affected joints must be minimized, and a moderate amount of exercise must be implemented to influence the course of the disease positively.

Arthroscopic therapy represents an interface between conservative and endoprosthetic treatment. Here, the joint surface is inspected using a camera via minimal skin incisions, and minor corrections can be made to the cartilage surfaces via working channels. If conservative therapy does not bring the desired success, a surgical hip joint replacement may be necessary to improve quality of life and restore mobility.

Surgical Treatment of Periprosthetic Fractures

If a bone that is already connected to a hip joint prosthesis is fractured, the statics of the artificial joint are seriously jeopardized. In the case of periprosthetic fracture, in addition to adequate pain therapy, surgical treatment is essential to maintain normal joint function.

Depending on the fracture type, stabilization surgery alone (osteosynthesis) may be sufficient, or a prosthesis replacement may become necessary.

Most Excellent Expertise in Replacement Surgery for Artificial Hip Joints (Hip TEP)

Replacement surgery is usually necessary if the hip joint implant becomes loose. In addition to an infectious cause, the most common reason for loosening the hip prosthesis is chronic incorrect weight bearing on the artificial joint. This usually manifests in typical start-up pain at the start of weight-bearing. An increasing difference in leg length can also indicate the prosthesis stem sinking into the medullary cavity of the femur. Bone damage is evaluated using X-ray or computer tomography.

A conservative treatment approach is not practical for implant loosening. Before a replacement surgery, whether the cause of the prosthesis loosening is infectious must always be clarified, as this requires a more radical approach against bacterial pathogens.

Specialists for Femoral Head Necrosis: Diagnosis & Therapy at the Orthoparc Clinic Cologne

Femoral head necrosis refers to the death of bone tissue at the femoral head due to blood supply disorders. This leads to degeneration of the hip joint and consequently to pain, stiffness, and harmful postures.

Risk factors include risky alcohol consumption, long-term cortisone use, severe trauma, certain diseases, and a genetic predisposition. Early diagnosis, e.g., by MRI, is crucial for successful treatment. Conservative treatment approaches such as physiotherapy, pain-relieving measures, or pressure relief using crutches can only have a positive effect on the course of the disease in the early stages.

Drilling into the femoral head in advanced stages can relieve pressure and improve the blood supply to the bone. In addition, the patient’s or somebody elses bone material can be brought to the femoral head to cover any defect.

In severe cases, a repositioning osteotomy is indicated, whereby the femoral head is cut through and then fixed in a more axial position to relieve pressure. A total hip replacement may be necessary to restore mobility and quality of life.

State-of-the-Art Medical Care for Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia refers to a congenital malformation or acquired degeneration of the hip socket and is associated with an increased risk of dislocation, i.e., femoral head dislocation. Chronic pain syndrome and coxarthrosis can develop as a result.

In newborns, conservative treatment by spreading the legs with diapers or other spreading procedures is usually sufficient. Only in cases of severe malalignment or acquired dysplasia in adulthood is surgery initially attempted to minimize the risk of dislocation using repositioning osteotomy. A total hip endoprosthesis remains as a last alternative.

Hip Specialists in Cologne: Decades of Experience for a Rapid Recovery from Hip Diseases

Prof Dr Joachim Schmidt and Dr Ahmet Ercan have specialized in diagnosing and treating hip diseases at the renowned ATOS Hip Clinic in Cologne. Thanks to their decades of experience in orthopedics and hip surgery, they can quickly get their patients back on their feet using state-of-the-art technologies, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a holistic approach to patient care.

Please visit the ATOS Orthoparc Clinic Cologne website for more information.