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Gonarthrosis and Coxarthrosis Treatment in Bonn

We treat arthrosis in the knee, hip and other joints with SVF cell therapy and PRP, and review your X-rays or MRI for free to judge the stage

Consultation and review of your scansFree

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Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

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What it is

What is osteoarthritis
(arthrosis)?

In this chronic disease — osteoarthritis, or arthrosis — joint cartilage is gradually worn thin. Losing the cartilage cushion lets bone rub against bone, which brings pain, stiffness and a smaller range of motion. It is classed as degenerative, not inflammatory, even though swelling may come with flare-ups.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

Suitability for treatment is decided by a doctor, following an examination and a look at your scans

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
  • Painkillers only help for a short time
  • Recovery after injuries and surgery
  • You need a second opinion on your scans
  • You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
  • Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
  • High load on the joints — sport or physical work

Not suitable

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: a cold, flu or fever, or inflamed skin over the joint planned for treatment

Not sure the treatment is right for you?

Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Find out if it suits me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

Examination of the joint plus a review of your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound tells the doctor whether the procedure is suitable. If you have scans already, you can send them before the appointment.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

We take a small amount of blood from a vein, which is later used to prepare platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

About 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture in the abdomen or inner thigh, with local anaesthetic. The puncture needs no stitches.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge and divides into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is taken out and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The material is injected directly into the affected joint, guided by ultrasound for precise placement.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches are needed and there is no hospital stay. The doctor keeps in touch after the procedure to see how the joint responds.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~6 months

    The full effect develops.

How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result.

Comparison

Methods we use

The treatment relies solely on your own blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

A little of your adipose tissue is taken and processed so that the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) can be separated: cells that help tissues repair. This is combined with your own plasma and injected into the joint affected by the disease.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

It is chosen mostly for early and moderate osteoarthritis, where it slows cartilage wear and reduces friction between joint surfaces.

Material
Your adipose tissue and plasma
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

Your own blood, in a small amount, is processed to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which goes into the joint to calm inflammation and improve conditions for tissue repair.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

Commonly used for mild osteoarthritis — and together with SVF when you need a stronger effect.

Material
Your blood from a vein
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan

Free consultation

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

From large joints to small ones — which joint, which method and how many injections is decided after the doctor studies your scans

  • KneeKneeMeniscus issues, wearing cartilage, stairs and walking bring pain
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderJoint and tendon wear around it, pain on lifting the arm
  • ElbowElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overloading or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Treatment without surgery that works to keep your own joint rather than swap it for an implant

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

The treatment relies solely on your own blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

Only punctures, no incisions — under local anaesthetic and without a long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Your X-rays, MRI or reports are assessed independently by a doctor at no charge once you send them

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We stay in touch after the procedure and follow the result, not just the day of the injection

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

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Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

Pricing depends on which joint, which method and the stage of osteoarthritis; the doctor gives the cost after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

How osteoarthritis is treated without surgery for Bonn residents

Without treatment, osteoarthritis usually progresses: pain becomes constant, movement becomes limited and the joint may deform. Early diagnosis, weight control, exercise and working with a doctor make a real difference for every patient in Bonn.

Blood tests help rule out inflammatory conditions before treatment. If you are a patient from Bonn, the doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed so you can prepare.

The cost of osteoarthritis treatment depends on the joint, the stage and the method, so the price is set at the consultation. For patients from Bonn, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.

Five million joints: what the national figures say about wear

Osteoarthritis is not a rare complaint. In Germany about five million people live with it, and in 2016 about 400,000 hip and knee joint replacement operations were performed. Those numbers describe the whole country, not Bonn alone, and no figure for the city itself is quoted here. They do show why joint wear is a routine topic for family doctors and orthopaedic specialists in a city of 323,587 residents.

Osteoarthritis (arthrosis) is slow, chronic wear of the cartilage that lines a joint. Healthy cartilage softens impact. When it thins, the bone ends rub, and the joint hurts, stiffens and moves less. Flare-ups with swelling can happen, but the underlying process is degenerative, not inflammatory. That distinction matters, because arthritis, the truly inflamed joint, brings pain at rest and at night, redness and warmth, and calls for a different approach.

The knees (gonarthrosis) and hips (coxarthrosis) are affected most because they carry the greatest load. The ankle and the small joints of the hand follow. A coordinator at City Medical Centre, reached on WhatsApp or Telegram at any hour, can start the conversation without any trip to a consulting room. You send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound, and a doctor reviews them free of charge to establish the stage.

Stiff mornings and short winter days

Bonn has a mild, fairly wet climate. The annual mean temperature is 11.1 °C. In January the mean daily maximum is only 5.4 °C, and the mean daily minimum stays around 0.4–0.5 °C in January and February. Sunshine drops to about 2 hours a day in January and November and about 1 hour in December, against roughly 7 hours a day from May to August.

Osteoarthritis typically shows itself as aching pain on movement, crunching, and stiffness after rest. If you notice that joints feel stiffer in the dark, cool months, keep a short note of when it happens, which joint is involved and how long the stiffness lasts. That is useful information for the consultation. The medical text we work from does not claim that weather causes the condition, so the doctor will judge your pattern from the examination and your scans, not from the calendar.

Annual precipitation is about 645 mm, with June (78 mm) and August (70 mm) the wettest months and October (30 mm) and April (35 mm) the driest. Dry spells are convenient for planned activity. Suitable exercise builds the muscles that unload the joint and helps the cartilage by keeping you moving. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are the options usually suggested. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are best avoided.

Load on the joints: slopes, study, work and body weight

Bonn lies mostly on the left bank of the Rhine, and the Siebengebirge rises to the south-east. The city centre sits at about 60 m above sea level, while the lowest point, Kemper Werth, is 45.6 m and the highest, Paffelsberg, is 195.3 m. That is a spread of roughly 150 m across the city. For a knee with cartilage wear, a gradient matters less as a number than as a symptom: pain on stairs or after walking is one of the typical signs of knee osteoarthritis, and it is worth describing to the doctor in concrete terms.

The load on the joints is also shaped by how people spend their days. The university alone had 31,501 students and 6,575 doctoral candidates in December 2024. Long periods of sitting are one pattern, physical work and sport are another, and the service text names sport and physical work as a high load on the joints. Pain, crunching or stiffness that does not go away, or painkillers that help only for a short time, are good reasons to have the scans looked at. So is recovery after an injury or an operation.

Body weight is the other factor the doctors mention. In measured data (DEGS 2008/11), 23.3% of men and 23.9% of women in Germany had a BMI of 30 or more, and the stage of the disease, body weight and activity all influence how long the effect of treatment lasts. Treatment is not a replacement for weight control and exercise. Both make a real difference alongside it, and the doctor will discuss them together with the injection plan.

The method itself uses only your own material: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) prepared from a small blood sample, and, when a stronger effect is needed, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from a small portion of your adipose tissue. The doctor determines the joint, the method and the number of injections after looking at your scans.

Injection or joint replacement: the two routes side by side

Joint replacement remains a well-established option and is sometimes the more realistic one. After an uncomplicated hip replacement in Germany, the inpatient stay lasts about six to eight days in most clinics, and follow-up rehabilitation is arranged during the stay. The doctor at City Medical Centre will say frankly if your joint is too badly worn for injections and replacement is the better course. Joint replacement is the last option, for when the joint is already destroyed.

The non-surgical route is different in shape. The whole procedure is done in one day. First a small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Then, under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is collected through a puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh, without stitches. The samples are spun in a centrifuge, and the SVF is isolated and blended with the PRP. The material goes into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance. There are no crutches and no hospital stay.

The treatment works best at an early or moderate stage, before the joint surfaces are badly worn. Doctors usually describe four stages, from early thinning of the cartilage to severe wear. When the joint space has almost disappeared, a lasting effect cannot be expected. For avascular necrosis, SVF may be considered only at stages 1–2, to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay a joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required.

Who is not suitable matters as much as who is. The list includes cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, acute infections (including infection in or near the joint) and a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. Temporary reasons to wait are a raised temperature, a cold or flu, or inflamed skin above the target joint.

Coverage, timing and the weeks after the procedure

About 92% of the German population is covered by statutory health insurance, and as of 2024 about 88% of the working population is insured through statutory funds and about 11% privately. Whether your own insurer reimburses an injection procedure is something to ask the insurer directly. This text makes no claim about it. The doctor quotes the cost of the plan after the consultation, because it depends on the joint, the method and the stage of osteoarthritis, and the consultation and review of your scans are free of charge with no obligation.

The expected course is gradual. In the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. After about a month the pain usually eases. Mobility and activity improve at around three months, and the full effect develops at roughly six months. Some patients notice early changes after 2–3 weeks. How long the result lasts differs from person to person, from several months to several years, and no one can promise a fixed outcome. Because osteoarthritis is chronic, it needs an ongoing plan rather than a one-off injection.

If you like to plan around the calendar, remember that the first week can bring a little more aching. The Beethovenfest, held every September with about 70 concerts, and the carnival season, for which Bonn is described as a centre of the Rhenish tradition, are examples of dates when many people prefer to be comfortable on their feet. Choose the date with your coordinator, who answers round the clock, and the doctor stays in touch after the procedure to follow how the joint responds.

Do the cold months in Bonn make osteoarthritis worse?

The medical material we rely on does not link weather to the progression of the disease. What it does describe is stiffness after rest and aching pain on movement. In Bonn the mean January maximum is 5.4 °C and the minimum about 0.4 °C, so if you notice more stiffness in winter, note when it appears and for how long, and tell the doctor at the consultation.

Is the consultation really possible without going anywhere?

Yes. The consultation is online. A coordinator replies on WhatsApp or Telegram, asks for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor reviews them free of charge, assesses the stage and says whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Which scans should I send from Bonn?

An X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage. MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues, and ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid in the joint. Blood tests help rule out inflammatory disease. Send whatever you already have, and the doctor will say if anything else is needed.

Is the treatment covered by statutory health insurance in Germany?

About 92% of the population is covered by statutory insurance, but this text does not state whether it reimburses this procedure. Ask your insurer directly. The doctor quotes the cost of the plan after the consultation, and the consultation itself is free.

I stand or walk a lot during the day. Does that matter?

Yes, it is relevant. High load on the joints from sport or physical work is listed among the reasons the treatment may suit you. Describe your daily routine to the doctor, including pain on stairs or after walking, because it helps in choosing the joint, the method and the number of injections.

Could I schedule the procedure around an event such as carnival or the Beethovenfest?

You can discuss timing with the coordinator. The procedure is done in one day, there are no crutches and no hospital stay, but the joint may ache a little more during the first week, so it is sensible to keep that week calm. The temporary reasons to wait are a raised temperature, a cold or flu, and inflamed skin above the joint.

How does this compare with a hip replacement in terms of time?

After an uncomplicated hip replacement in Germany the inpatient stay lasts about six to eight days in most clinics, followed by rehabilitation. The injection procedure is done in one day without a hospital stay. If the joint is already badly damaged, the doctor will tell you honestly that replacement may be more realistic.

Does body weight change the outcome?

Yes. The stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors all affect how long the effect lasts. Controlling weight and taking suitable exercise are part of the approach alongside the injection, and the doctor will discuss them with you.