- Specialist physician in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
- Specialist physician in physical and rehabilitative medicine
- Specialist physician in paediatric orthopaedics
After studying in Bonn and Montpellier and training stations in Bonn and Erlangen, I came to Heidelberg in 2004. I have been working in the field of orthopaedics and trauma surgery for more than 20 years, focusing on spine therapy; since 1998 I have done conservative treatment and have been operating for more than 15 years. For more than ten years, I have worked as Head Senior Physician, Section Head, and Chief Physician of specialised spine departments. I represent the entire spectrum of spine surgery from minimally invasive surgery to complex deformities. The treatment of deformities (scoliosis and kyphosis) in children, adolescents and adults has always been a major focus of my work apart from the treatment of wear-related illnesses. Careful paediatric and neuro-orthopaedic training and enthusiasm for working with patients and the social environment motivate me.
Training activities in continuing medical education are very important to me. As a speaker, instructor and organiser of continuing education courses of the DWG, the DGOOC and other institutions, I am active on a regular basis and am in constant technical exchange with national and international specialists in spine surgery.
Careful clarification of the symptoms before starting a treatment is very important to me. Thus, together with patients and, if necessary, the parent or guardian the best individual therapy can be developed. This is often possible without surgery.
Range of services
- Surgical and non-surgical treatment of wear-related disorders such as herniated discs, spinal canal gene, vertebral joints and total spinal instability
- Surgical and non-surgical treatment of local deformities such as spondylolisthesis
- Surgical and non-surgical treatment of spinal curvatures (scoliosis and kyphosis) of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, including wear-related curvatures
- Surgical and non-surgical treatments of the ageing spine and especially osteoporotic changes
The careful planning of interventions has the highest priority. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment adapted to the needs. The greatest possible reduction in radiation exposure, with a clear increase in quality and more information for the patient, is at the centre of our attention here. That is why we use a state-of-the-art and innovative special X-ray device, the EOS. Its pictures are extremely suitable for therapy planning. This diagnosis equipment which is rare (only 12 locations in Germany) is able to reduce the required radiation dose by up to 90% compared to the current standard diagnostics. If required, this diagnostic is flanked by radiation-free imaging with MRI. If there are specific questions about the bone structure or the vessel situation, a CT may be added.
Surgically, the following techniques are used:
- Microscopically assisted movement-preserving minimally invasive removal of herniated discs (nucleotomy), expansions of the spinal canal (decompression) and the nerve root pockets (foraminotomy)
- If necessary, minimally invasive stabilisation (spondylodesis) of vertebral segments at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine with screw-rod systems and cages via access from the back, the flank or from the front.
- Movement-preserving implants (disc prostheses for disc wear
- Complex rectifying and stabilising corrections of spinal deformities (scoliosis and kyphosis) using screw-rod systems and intraoperative neuromonitoring (monitoring of nerve functions).
- Many years of surgical experience, state-of-the-art intraoperative navigation and the best imaging are of course available for additional patient safety.
Education
- 1990-1996 Study of human medicine at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn
- 1993-1994 Year abroad at the Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier, France
Clinical career
- Since 2018 Chief Physician at “The Spine – Centre for Spine Surgery” at ATOS Clinic Heidelberg
- 2015 -2017 Chief Physician of the Department of Spinal Surgery of the Schön Clinic Lorsch
- 2009 -2015 Spokesman of the Interdisciplinary Spine Centre of the University Clinic Heidelberg
- 2008 – 2015 Head of the Department of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Paraplegiology, University of Heidelberg; Director Prof. V. Ewerbeck
- 2007 – 2008 Senior Consultant of the Orthopaedic University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Orthopaedics II; Director: Professor Dr. H. J. Gerner
- 2005 – 2007 Senior Physician of the Orthopaedic University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Orthopaedics II; Director: Professor Dr. med. H. J. Gerner
- 2004 – 2005 Specialist physician in orthopaedics, cerebral palsy and technical orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Foundation at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Orthopaedics II; Director: Professor Dr. med. H. J. Gerner
- 2002 – 2004 Medical Assistant and Research Assistant at the Chair of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen – Nuremberg at the Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien Erlangen; Director: Prof. Dr. med. R. Forst
- 1998 – 2002 Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, St. Josef Hospital Bonn; Chief doctor: Dr. med. N. Moos
- 1996 – 1998 Internship, Department of General and Trauma Surgery, Ev. Hospital Bonn; Chief Physician: Professor Dr. med. D.W. Schröder and Department of Orthopaedics, St. Josef Hospital Bonn; Chief doctor: Dr. med. N. Moos
Additional tasks and qualifications
- 2005 – 2008 Quality Officer of the Department of Orthopaedics II Lecturer for Student Education (Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale = HEICUMED) of the Department of Orthopaedics II
- 2005 Qualification as transfusion officer physician
- 2006 Qualification as hygiene officer physician
- 2013 -2015 Montpellier officer of the Faculty of Medicine
- 2013 – 2016 Coordination of the Working Group on Deformities of the German Spinal Society (DWG)
- since 2017 Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Deformities of the German Spine Society (DWG)
- Since 2016 member of the Scientific Commission of the German Spine Society (DWG)
- Since 2015 Deputy Member of the Landesethik-Kommission Baden Württemberg
