Unna’s Orthopedic Clinic Operates in the “Champions League” – Ranked No. 1 in Germany
UNNA. In May 2020, the Westphalian Joint and Endoprosthesis Center – the Orthopedic Clinic at Christliches Klinikum Unna – was awarded the top nationwide position on rating platforms of Germany’s largest health insurers. The basis of this independent analysis is the QSR (Quality Assurance with Routine Data) procedure by AOK. Nationwide data on complications and adverse events following hip and knee replacements were compared by AOK’s scientific institute, WidO in Berlin, across more than 1,200 hospitals. Including top results from the “Weisse Liste,” Germany’s largest independent and ad-free patient information portal, and taking into account high standards in patient safety, hygiene, quality assurance, and the clinical infrastructure relevant for such surgeries, the orthopedic clinic in Unna ranked first in hip and knee replacements across Germany. (Source: www.op-spezialisten.de)
With 91 percent patient satisfaction and one of the best QSR results, patients praise the medical care and physician-patient interaction. Thus, the team led by Chief Physician Dr. Matthias Pothmann ranks among the top orthopedic departments in Germany.
The Weisse Liste – www.weisse-liste.de – is an information platform for patients under the patronage of the Bertelsmann Foundation and the major patient and consumer organizations in Germany. The Federal Government’s Commissioner for Patients and Care serves as the patron. The results are based on extensive patient surveys and structured hospital quality reports.
With a 91% recommendation rate and 90% satisfaction with medical care, the Orthopedic Clinic and its certified maximum-care Endoprosthesis Center received top ratings. A key factor in the evaluation on the Weisse Liste is case volume. With around 870 hip and knee replacements annually, Christliches Klinikum Unna leads within a 50-kilometer radius. In previous years, both AOK and Techniker Krankenkasse ranked the clinic among the “top ten” orthopedic departments in Germany.
AOK hospital reports have repeatedly emphasized that higher case numbers correlate with physician experience and reduced patient risk.
“The entire team is proud of this extremely positive national patient rating – especially because it comes from independent sources like the Weisse Liste and data from insurers including AOK, IKK, and Barmer,” said Dr. Matthias Pothmann, Chief of Orthopedics.
Christliches Klinikum Unna (formerly Evangelisches Krankenhaus Unna until 10/2020) enjoys an excellent orthopedic reputation well beyond the region. This is largely due to the specialization of the Westphalian Joint and Endoprosthesis Center – the Orthopedic Clinic at CKU, where Director Dr. Matthias Pothmann and four other specialists address all aspects of the musculoskeletal system.
Whether mobility can be restored through conservative or surgical means is determined entirely on an individual basis – in close cooperation and with detailed consultation and patient education. Most importantly, joint preservation takes precedence over replacement whenever possible, and “every patient is treated as if they were our own parents,” says Dr. Pothmann in an interview.
Example: Meniscus Surgery – Minimally Invasive and Gentle Treatment
In meniscus surgery, almost exclusively minimally invasive procedures are performed – such as for tears or capsule, ligament, or cartilage injuries, as well as for ACL reconstructions, which are also addressed arthroscopically and primarily treated by Dr. Jan Paul Schulze-Waltrup (Senior Physician for Sports Orthopedics).
If conservative treatments such as physical therapy, muscle building, weight reduction, or medication prove ineffective or no longer seem appropriate, surgery may be the next step. In such cases, the hospital frequently performs corrective surgeries of the pelvis and lower limbs – at an international level. Especially in triple pelvic osteotomies, a highly complex, joint-preserving pelvic correction surgery for hip dysplasia, the clinic is among the most experienced in Europe. This also applies to realignment procedures for hip dysplasia, axis misalignments of the knee, or congenital deformities of the femur – where the overriding goal remains: joint preservation.
Endoprosthetics: High Expertise in Artificial Joints and Complex Deformities
When patients’ quality of life is severely limited by joint osteoarthritis, especially due to deformities, and reconstruction is no longer possible, the expertise of Dr. Pothmann and his senior physicians is critical.
The experienced specialists in Unna apply minimally invasive techniques wherever feasible. These muscle-sparing procedures have earned the team a reputation extending far beyond Westphalia. Patients typically recover significantly faster thanks to the reduced surgical trauma and minimized muscle damage.
Pioneering Role: Westphalian Joint and Endoprosthesis Center
Through especially gentle procedures, Dr. Matthias Pothmann has set new standards with his Westphalian Joint and Endoprosthesis Center. Today, this department is regarded by several leading prosthesis manufacturers as a “German Reference Center for Minimally Invasive Hip Endoprosthetics.” The center’s motto clearly reflects its mission:
“Top-tier medicine driven by passion.”
For this pioneering role and the outstanding treatment results achieved, Dr. Pothmann’s team has received multiple awards. These specialists have extensive experience with hip, knee, and shoulder prostheses. The choice of cemented, uncemented, or hybrid implantation is made on an individual basis. From a large inventory of proven high-tech prostheses, the team can choose from over 200 combinations, sizes, and designs depending on the joint involved.
Prosthesis Revision Surgeries
The team also has above-average experience with revision surgeries. When artificial joints loosen, procedures involving bone grafts and reconstruction using specialized prostheses may be necessary.
Wide Range: Experienced Sports Medicine Physicians
Naturally, Clinic Director Dr. Matthias Pothmann and senior physicians Dr. Jan Paul Schulze-Waltrup (Head of Sports Orthopedics) and Dr. Axel Küpper are well-versed in surgical treatments necessitated by acute sports injuries – such as ACL tears or meniscus damage.
However, the main specialty of the five experts remains endoprosthetics, which continues to enhance the hospital’s exceptional reputation. Across the region between Bochum and Paderborn, and Münster to Hagen, no other general hospital department implants more endoprostheses – and with great success. Particularly in knee and hip replacements, and joint-preserving hip and pelvic surgeries, Germany’s largest health insurers report extremely low complication and infection rates. In this quality metric, the clinic ranks among the “top ten” in Germany – a testament to the excellence upheld by Clinic Director Dr. Matthias Pothmann and senior physicians Dr. Axel Küpper, Dr. Jan Paul Schulze-Waltrup, and MU Dr. David Schnierer, along with their surgical, medical, and nursing teams.
This year, the “youngest orthopedic clinic in North Rhine-Westphalia” celebrates its 15th anniversary – marking an extraordinary trajectory toward becoming one of the top hip and knee replacement centers in the country.