From endoprosthetics to foot surgery and spinal orthopedics, the Orthopedic Clinic and Polyclinic of Rostock University Medical Center covers a wide range of treatments for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. We spoke with Clinic Director Prof. Wolfram Mittelmeier about what the clinic offers in the preventive area.
Prof. Mittelmeier: The focus in everyday clinical practice is certainly on the entire range of treatment options for illnesses or injuries. But there are certainly opportunities to take a preventative approach. In our pediatric orthopaedic consultation, for example: If we are dealing with overweight children, we recommend - in addition to specific treatment - more exercise and a healthy diet. This often has an impact on the whole family. A consciously healthier lifestyle benefits both the patient and their environment. Prevention of the musculoskeletal system is one of the focal points of our sports orthopaedics section. With the involvement of physiotherapists and sports scientists, we also look after the German national karate squad and many young, healthy athletes in our sports consultation - both of which are prevention at a high level.
Your heart beats for athletes?
Prof. Mittelmeier: Yes. Children and adolescents, who are still growing, are particularly prone to asymmetrical stress profiles. Regular orthopaedic check-ups prevent joint damage in competitive athletes at an early stage. In orthopaedic consultations, we also try to teach people to integrate sporting activities into their lifestyle. Together with the Rehaklinik Moorbad Bad Doberan, we are also a partner of the "Treated like a top athlete" program of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) for typical sports injuries.
You are one of Germany's top physicians in hip and knee surgery, your clinic is recognized as a maximum care endoprosthetics center and has therefore been listed highly in the Focus lists for several years. Do guests in the country also benefit from your expertise?
Prof. Mittelmeier: In the field of arthroplasty, we are currently forming a network with other hospitals, rehabilitation clinics and centers, therapists in private practice and orthopaedic technology companies. Accompanied by a digital networking structure, we are pursuing several goals: Patients should receive appointments more quickly and the transfer from the acute clinic to rehab should be seamless. We also want to optimize transfer strategies between hospitals in the orthopaedic sector. Video conferencing and digital patient data transfer are intended to avoid the complications that have occasionally occurred in the past. All of this also benefits patients who do not come from MV. Incidentally, we have agreed discounts with selected hotels for the accommodation of accompanying relatives.
