“Implanting a new product is always something special.”

ARTIQO: What do you remember most about the first implantation of the A2® short stem in January 2016?

Dr. Harald Dinges: What I remember most fondly is the honor of being able to implant a new product. I already had over ten years of experience with short stems, but a new system is always something special. You know you’re at the beginning and that the next few years will show how an implant performs in everyday clinical practice.

ARTIQO: What role did short shafts play in your operational practice ten years ago, and what role do they play today?

Dr. Harald Dinges: Ten years ago, we primarily used short stem implants in young and active patients, typically those aged 60 and under.

Today, the patient’s biological age is far more important than their chronological age. And the focus is on how well we can restore the individual anatomy.

ARTIQO: Looking back on ten years of clinical experience with the A2® short stem: What aspects of the system have proven particularly effective from your perspective?

Dr. Harald Dinges: For me, there are essentially three key points:

First, its broad applicability across a wide range of anatomies – varicose, valgus, or normal. We encounter a great deal of diversity proximally in the femur, and the A2® short stem allows us to treat these anatomies very effectively. Reconstruction of the individual anatomy is reliably achieved.

Second, the very low complication rate during stem implantation. In my view, this is a crucial clinical factor.

And third, the A2® short stem can be implanted very effectively using all minimally invasive approaches. This provides users with a high degree of flexibility.

ARTIQO: You are retiring this year. What aspects of your work in endoprosthetics do you look back on with particular satisfaction?

Dr. Harald Dinges: The most important thing for me is satisfied patients. Looking back on my career, the best feeling is knowing that we have been able to help many people achieve a better quality of life with the available implants and surgical techniques.

For me personally, the close collaboration with the implant manufacturers was also very special. I was fortunate enough to be involved in development processes for both knee and hip replacements. This was incredibly enriching professionally.

ARTIQO: What advice would you give to younger colleagues who are intensively involved with short-term care insurance?

Dr. Harald Dinges: The chosen path of short-stem endoprosthetics should be pursued consistently. The results in the registries are outstanding. And in particular, the A2® short stem, which also offers a cemented version, can, in my view, be considered a standard stem and used accordingly. This is also reflected in the treatment figures in the registries.