Rapid Recovery: A New Quality of Life After Joint Replacement
When Udo Jurgens sings about life only beginning at 66, Helmut Winkler can only smile in response. The Düsseldorf native looks 66, but in October, he celebrated his 100th birthday. And that’s not all. On July 26, 2023, Dr. Alexander Olk replaced his hip joint. Just six days after the surgery, Helmut Winkler stepped onto the balcony of his hospital room at Sana Benrath without crutches and happily declared to himself and the world that he was feeling great!
From a medical perspective, there are no age restrictions for hip replacement surgery. With the increasing average age of the population, more elderly patients require knee or hip surgery. “In principle, it is possible at any age. In addition to your physical condition and any underlying health conditions, your overall level of activity is crucial.
Pain-related mobility limitations, especially for elderly people who live independently, can lead to a loss of independence and the need for care,” says Dr. Alexander Olk, Head of the Department of Orthopedic, Trauma, and Reconstructive Surgery at the Sana clinical complex in Benrath.
Since 2023, new treatment approaches have been used for patients in need of an artificial hip joint. The program is called Rapid Recovery, which means “fast recovery.” Everything went according to plan for Helmut Winkler before and during the surgery. On the sixth day after the operation, the father of four was already looking forward to starting his rehabilitation program the next day. “I want to be in shape for my birthday and be able to play golf again,” said Helmut Winkler.
His hip pain had only been present for a few months but quickly worsened. Walking became difficult, and the pain limited his ability to play golf. Dr. Olk explains that this is not uncommon: “Unlike knee joint replacements, hip joint wear often progresses quite rapidly, making replacement necessary for patients.”
Germany has seen significant advancements in the quality of orthopedic care. A special certification system has been developed: clinics that perform a high number of joint replacement surgeries and meet numerous additional quality criteria can be certified as Endoprosthesis Centers. The certified endoprosthesis center at Sana Benrath Hospital was the first of its kind in Düsseldorf. The center successfully underwent recertification in September 2023. At Heinrich Heine University Hospital in Duesseldorf, experienced orthopedic surgeons also have access to all modern diagnostic technologies.
The Rapid Recovery program was specifically developed for joint replacement patients to optimize all aspects of patient care, from the first consultation to hospital discharge. The program includes measures aimed at ensuring a swift recovery after surgery, including rapid mobility restoration, thorough medical preparation, detailed patient education, training, rehabilitation procedures, assistive devices, minimally invasive surgery using blood-preserving techniques, and effective pain management.
Additional benefits of the program focus on preventing complications that may arise from postoperative bed rest, such as thrombosis, embolism, or infections like pneumonia and bladder infections. The goal of all these measures is to restore patients’ mobility as quickly as possible. Intensive patient education and detailed explanations about the therapy process help reduce patients’ concerns and achieve the best possible treatment outcomes.
Source: Sana Clinical Complex