Endoprosthetics Centre, Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler, Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt

Quality assurance and a high level of patient safety thanks to certification in joint replacement – several hundred artificial joints in the hip, knee and shoulder area are implanted every year at the endoprosthetics centre at Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt. The hospital is located in the middle of Germany, halfway between Frankfurt and Göttingen. Thanks to its good reputation, the centre is also known far beyond the region of North Hesse. Under the leadership of Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler, patients here receive the best possible joint replacement for the hip, knee and shoulder – and with it, maximum mobility and the high quality of life that this brings.

In 2014, the Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics at Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt was certified as an endoprosthetics centre. With this, the department led by Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler certifies that all defined process and quality standards are adhered to in the implantation of artificial joints. To ensure consistently high quality, the standards are reviewed annually by an independent commission.

Artificial hip joints: AMIS procedure

The endoprosthetics centre is convincing in the minimally invasive implantation of hip endoprostheses: Anyone who is fitted with a new hip joint in the Ziegenhain district of Schwalmstadt can rest assured that the AMIS procedure is a procedure that particularly kind on the muscles. So far, this method is only used at a few clinics in Germany and is characterised by the fact that no muscles, tendons or nerves are cut during the procedure. Patients not only benefit from much less pain, but the recovery time is also significantly shorter, which means a correspondingly faster return to everyday life. With a "new hip" from the Schwalmstadt Endoprosthetics Centre, sport and unrestricted movement are usually possible again soon – with no change to muscle function.

The best care for artificial knee joints:

The team led by Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler also has a high level of expertise in the knee joint. When it comes to the largest joint in the body, the quality of surgery determines the prognosis. With the experienced team, people in the Marburg and Kassel region can be sure that they will be able to move pain-free and unimpeded for years to come with an artificial knee joint. The endoprosthetics centre at the Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt not only has competent specialists to ensure good results, but also computer-navigated implantation of knee endoprostheses. The navigation system provides the surgeons with an additional orientation aid that enables best possible use of the artificial joint.

The Schwalmstadt Endoprosthetics Centre selects the most suitable knee prosthesis variant for each individual case. The team regularly receives further training on the subject of joint replacement and is therefore always up-to-date on any important innovations. Thus, the decision on which form of endoprosthetics to use is always made after a detailed examination of the individual case. If the affected joint is only worn in a certain area, a partial joint replacement – such as a sled prosthesis – can be used. There are several options for a total endoprosthesis – for example, the bilateral surface replacement or the axle-guided / coupled knee prosthesis. The specialists in Dr. Stiebler’s team arrive at the best possible solution together in the framework of a personal conversation with the patients.

Shoulder joint: Freedom of movement through endoprosthetics

The shoulder is the joint with the greatest range of motion. That is why the treatment options for injuries or wear-related disorders of the shoulder joint are equally diverse. In order to restore the range of motion in the shoulder with an artificial joint, the endoprosthetics centre at the Asklepios Klinikum Schwalmstadt also offers tailor-made options: Whether it is a pure replacement of the cartilage surface of the humeral head, a so-called short-shaft head prosthesis, a total endoprosthesis in which the joint surface of the socket is also replaced, or an "inverse prosthesis" – the experience and competence of the head physician and his team can also be relied upon when it comes to the shoulder.

Prosthesis replacement surgery: When an artificial joint needs to be replaced

If attention is paid to all details – from the initial planning to the follow-up treatment – and the prosthesis for the hip, knee or shoulder is implanted in a way that is as gentle on the tissue as possible, taking into account all personal needs, those affected can begin a new, active life after the operation. Wear, loosening or infections can be reasons for changing an implant. The team at the Asklepios Clinic also performs so-called prosthesis replacement or revision operations with a great deal of experience. If an implanted joint causes problems, a high level of expertise is required when changing the prosthesis, just like an initial implantation. At the certified endoprosthetics centre, such interventions are part of the routine procedures.

Custom-fit, made-to-measure joint replacement

In endoprosthetics, there are numerous prostheses available, from which the surgeon selects the model that is best suited to the patient in terms of size and shape. In some cases, there is no model that corresponds to the anatomy on hand, for example in the case of joint malformations, after injuries or previous operations. If it is determined during the preliminary examinations that none of the standard models is suitable, the artificial joint must be custom-made. Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler and his team have already inserted custom-made endoprostheses several times and have the relevant experience in this field. The custom-made joint replacement is manufactured by an external company, but the exact measurements have to be determined beforehand using a computer tomography. The endoprosthesis is planned accordingly together with the surgeon.

About Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler: Specialist in his field

Dr. (H) Karol Stiebler was born in Poland and received his "Doctor of Medical Science" degree from Semmelweis University in Budapest in 1993. He is a specialist in surgery, orthopaedics and trauma surgery and has several additional qualifications, such as special trauma surgery, physical therapy and is also recognised as an emergency physician. He also teaches future doctors in the fields of general surgery, orthopaedics and trauma surgery as part of the practical year (PJ). Over the years, the surgeon has performed numerous joint replacement operations, which is why it is not only very important for him to fulfil the defined process and quality standards, but also to contribute to the continuous optimisation of the medical-technical level of prostheses together with his team. His goal is to provide his patients with the best possible joint replacement for the hip, knee and shoulder, thus ensuring the best possible mobility and a high quality of life.