The Endoprosthetics Center, certified since 2014, specializes in the artificial replacement of knee, hip, and shoulder joints as well as revision prosthetic surgery. Dr. Stiebler and his team provide treatment at the highest level of modern medical technology while adhering to defined process and quality standards, which are reviewed annually by an independent commission.
In addition to many years of experience and established procedures, the center uses the robotic-assisted VELYS™ system in knee arthroplasty. This system supports the surgical team in adapting implants even more precisely and individually to the anatomy of each patient by providing real-time data on alignment, stability, and ligament tension during the procedure. In this way, the existing quality of treatment is continuously enhanced and complemented by innovative technological capabilities.
Quality assurance and high patient safety through certification in joint replacement surgery – several hundred artificial hip, knee, and shoulder joints are implanted each year at the Endoprosthetics Center of Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt. The hospital is centrally located in Germany, midway between Frankfurt and Göttingen. Thanks to its excellent reputation, the center is well known far beyond the northern Hesse region. Under the leadership of Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler, patients receive the best possible joint replacement solutions for the hip, knee, and shoulder – enabling the greatest possible mobility and therefore a high quality of life.
In 2014, the Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics at Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt was certified as an Endoprosthetics Center. This certification confirmed that the department headed by Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler complies with all defined process and quality standards in the implantation of artificial joints. To ensure consistently high quality, these standards are reviewed annually by an independent commission.
Artificial hip joints: the AMIS procedure
The Endoprosthetics Center excels in the minimally invasive implantation of hip prostheses: patients receiving a new hip joint in the Schwalmstadt district of Ziegenhain can be assured that the AMIS procedure – a particularly muscle-sparing method – is being used. So far, this technique is available only in a limited number of clinics in Germany and is characterized by the fact that no muscles, tendons, or nerves are cut during the procedure. Patients benefit not only from significantly less pain, but also from a much shorter recovery time, allowing a faster return to daily life. With a “new hip” from the Schwalmstadt Endoprosthetics Center, sports and unrestricted movement are generally possible again soon after surgery – while preserving normal muscle function.
Excellent care for artificial knee joints
The team led by Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler also has extensive expertise in knee joint replacement. When it comes to the body’s largest joint, the quality of surgery determines the prognosis. Patients from the regions around Marburg and Kassel can rely on the experienced team to provide an artificial knee joint that allows them to move pain-free and comfortably for many years.
The center uses modern robotic-assisted technologies such as the VELYS™ system in knee arthroplasty. This system supports the surgical team in adapting implants even more precisely and individually to the anatomy of each patient by providing real-time data on alignment, stability, and ligament tension during the procedure. In this way, existing treatment methods are continuously enhanced and both precision and functional outcomes are further improved.
At the Schwalmstadt Endoprosthetics Center, the most suitable type of knee prosthesis is selected individually for each patient. The team regularly undergoes advanced training in joint replacement and therefore remains up to date with all important innovations. As a result, the choice of endoprosthetic solution is always made only after careful evaluation of the individual case. If only one specific part of the joint is worn, a partial joint replacement may be used, such as a sled prosthesis. In total knee replacement, several options are available – including bicondylar surface replacement or axis-guided and linked knee prostheses. In personal consultations, the specialists led by Dr. Stiebler work together with patients to find the best possible solution.
Shoulder joint: restoring freedom of movement through arthroplasty
The shoulder is the joint with the greatest range of motion. Accordingly, the treatment options for injuries or degenerative diseases of the shoulder joint are highly diverse. To restore shoulder mobility with an artificial joint, the Endoprosthetics Center at Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt offers individualized treatment options: whether it involves replacement of only the cartilage surface of the humeral head, a so-called short-stem head prosthesis, a total endoprosthesis in which the socket surface is also replaced, or a “reverse prosthesis” – patients can rely on the experience and expertise of the chief physician and his team.
Revision surgery: when an artificial joint needs to be replaced
When every detail is considered from initial planning through aftercare and the prosthesis for the hip, knee, or shoulder is implanted with maximum tissue preservation while taking all individual needs into account, a new active life begins after surgery. Wear, loosening, or infections may be reasons for replacing an implant. The team at Asklepios Klinik also performs so-called revision surgeries with extensive experience. When an implanted joint causes problems, replacing the prosthesis requires just as much expertise as the initial implantation. At the certified Endoprosthetics Center, such procedures are part of routine practice.
Perfectly fitted, customized joint replacement
A wide range of prostheses is available in endoprosthetics, from which the surgeon selects the model best suited in terms of size and shape for the patient. In some cases, however, no standard model matches the existing anatomy, for example in cases of joint deformities, previous injuries, or prior surgeries. If preoperative examinations show that none of the standard models are suitable, the artificial joint must be custom-made. Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler and his team have already implanted customized endoprostheses on several occasions and possess considerable experience in this area. The tailored joint replacement is manufactured by an external company, but exact measurements must first be determined using computed tomography scans. The endoprosthesis is then planned in close cooperation with the surgeon.
About Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler: a specialist in his field
Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler was born in Poland and earned his doctorate in 1993 at Semmelweis University in Budapest as a “Doctor of Medical Sciences.” He is a specialist in surgery, orthopedics, and trauma surgery and holds several additional qualifications, including special trauma surgery and physical therapy, and is also certified in emergency medicine. In addition, he teaches future physicians in the fields of general surgery, orthopedics, and trauma surgery during their practical year training. Over the course of his career, the surgeon has performed numerous joint replacement operations, which is why it is particularly important to him not only to meet the defined process and quality standards, but also to continuously optimize the medical and technical standards of prosthetic care together with his team. His goal is to ensure the greatest possible mobility and therefore a high quality of life for his patients through the best possible joint replacement solutions for the hip, knee, and shoulder.