Ihre Spezialisten für Knie- und Hüftprothesen
<p>The articon medical team has specialized in the treatment of <strong>knee and hip osteoarthritis</strong> for over 10 years. We have extensive experience and have established ourselves as a <strong>national reference center for knee and hip prostheses</strong><strong>.</strong> </p>
<p>We routinely use the latest robot-assisted surgical procedures <strong>to minimize complications and increase patient safety</strong>. Thanks to minimally invasive techniques and optimized rehabilitation concepts, your knee and hip are <strong>fully weight-bearing</strong> after the operation so that you<strong> are quickly mobile again</strong>. </p>
Get to know our specialists
PD Dr. med. Tilman Calliess
Dr. Calliess has been part of the articon team since 2018 and was also appointed Medical Director of the Bern Prosthetics Centre in 2022. He previously worked for 12 years at the Annastift Orthopaedic University Clinic in Hanover, including periods abroad in Australia and Austria. In Hanover, Dr. Calliess was team leader in the Clinic for Prosthetics and Reconstructive Joint Surgery. He was one of the first surgeons in Europe to start using robotic assistance in the operating theater back in 2016.
Dr. med. Grégoire Thürig
Dr. Thürig joined the articon medical team in 2025 as deputy head physician. He was previously Head Physician for Knee Surgery and Traumatology at Schaffhausen Cantonal Hospital and team doctor for FC Schaffhausen. His training includes fellowships from the German Knee Society and AO Trauma as well as seven years as a senior physician and lecturer at the cantonal hospital and the University of Fribourg.
Dr. med. Carlo Theus-Steinmann
Dr. Theus-Steinmann has been a senior physician in the articon medical team since July 2023. He trained as a specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology in Lucerne and Winterthur and, after successfully completing his training, spent a year on a fellowship in knee and hip prosthetics in Melbourne, Australia. He has already worked intensively with MAKO technology there and is a perfect fit for our team.
Dr. med. Bernhard Christen, M.H.A.
Dr. Christen, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon with over 30 years of experience, is the founder of the practice. Between 2012 and 2014, he was President of the Swiss Orthopaedic Society (Swiss Orthopaedics). Although he no longer performs operations at the articon practice, he remains an important part of the team as a valued consultant. With his expertise, he continues to support the practice in complex issues and in its strategic direction.
Our expertise
Where high-tech meets experience!
Knee prosthetics
Our core competence is the conservative and surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis. With over 350 knee prosthesis implantations and over 50 prosthesis replacements per year, we have extensive experience in this field.
Hip prosthetics
We are one of two specialized centers in Switzerland that routinely perform this operation using a minimally invasive and robot-assisted technique for the treatment of hip osteoarthritis.
Mako technology
MAKO technology is a robot-assisted surgical system that optimizes surgical planning and execution. This increases patient safety, reduces the risk of complications and promotes faster rehabilitation after the procedure.
Optimal recovery
Our Optimal Recovery Program is an interdisciplinary rehabilitation concept to ensure that the healing process runs smoothly. The aim is to enable patients to return to everyday life quickly and increase their satisfaction.
8 years of robot-assisted knee and hip prostheses with MAKO technology
demonstrably fewer revisions and high patient satisfaction
We have been using MAKO robotic technology for knee prostheses and hip replacements since 2018 and have performed over 3,000 robot-assisted operations since then. After eight years of experience, we can clearly demonstrate the benefits of this method based on our own data.
Together with the Swiss Prosthesis Register SIRIS, we have scientifically evaluated our results. The results show that since the introduction of MAKO technology, we have been able to significantly reduce the revision rates of our knee prostheses and are now below the Swiss average.
For total knee replacements, our estimated revision rate after 7 years is 4.3 %, compared to 7.1 % in the Swiss registry. For partial knee replacements, it is 3.8 % compared to 9.2 % in the comparative collective. These differences are clinically relevant and stable over the entire course.
The results reported by our patients (Patient Reported Outcome Measures, PROMs) also confirm this picture. The standardized evaluation via the MoveUP platform already shows above-average functional values one year after the operation and a high level of satisfaction compared to other orthopaedic centers in Europe. At the same time, we are seeing significantly fewer patients with unsatisfactory results or persistent complaints.
The question of whether robotic assistance makes a difference is often debated. Our own registry and patient data show that measurable benefits can be achieved with the structured use of this technology.
What is important here is that the decisive factor is not the robot alone. The difference comes from the interplay of operational experience, precise planning, standardized processes and consistent follow-up checks. MAKO technology is a tool that helps us to implement this quality reliably and reproducibly.
What is important to us
articon 4-eyes principle
<p>At articon, you are not only treated by one specialist, but practically always by two. All difficult medical decisions are regularly discussed by our medical team and the individual therapy is determined together. Every decision for an operation must withstand the critical eye of the others and be well-founded. As a rule, we even operate together to ensure the highest quality and a smooth procedure. This “four-eyes principle” is crucial for the quality of our treatment and makes a significant contribution to patient safety. </p>
Optimized, interdisciplinary treatment standards and transparent quality
<p><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-258" src="https://articon.ch/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PZ_Logo_small-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></p>
<p>The articon practice is a founding member of the Bern Prosthetics Center – an association of 4 prosthesis specialists and the Hirslanden clinics in Bern. We are the first certified center in Switzerland to specialize exclusively in knee and hip prosthetics. Our aim is to further increase patient safety and optimize care at all stages of treatment. We have jointly defined scientifically based treatment standards and implement them in an interdisciplinary team. We also hold weekly case conferences to continuously improve our quality. </p>
<p>Further information can be found on the website of the Bern Prosthetic Center</p>
<p><a href="https://www.prothetikzentrum.ch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.prothetikzentrum.ch</a></p>
Osteoarthritis and meniscus tears: surgery is not always necessary!
<p>Osteoarthritis or a meniscus tear does not always have to be operated on straight away. If you wait and carry out alternative, non-surgical therapies first, this usually has no negative effect on the disease and long-term prognosis. Pain relief can often be achieved with physiotherapy, nutritional supplements, shoe inserts and knee supports or knee braces. Infiltration therapy is an option for acute inflammatory pain. </p>
<p>We will be happy to advise you personally during consultation hours.</p>
articon second opinion consultation
<p>Our team of doctors has specialized in knee and hip joint prostheses for over 10 years. In addition to 500 initial implantations, we also carry out over 50 prosthesis replacements per year. For this reason, we have a great deal of experience in the assessment of joint complaints and treatment options – even after previous operations. </p>
<p>Sometimes it can make sense to wait and see before performing an operation. In some cases, a partial prosthesis is also a possible option instead of a total prosthesis. We have also developed a diagnostic algorithm to get to the bottom of the problem of a painful joint prosthesis after an operation has already been performed. </p>
<p>If you are still unsure about a treatment recommendation or continue to have symptoms after an operation, you are welcome to come to the consultation for a second assessment. We will take the time to thoroughly review your medical history and give you a well-founded and competent recommendation. </p>