Basics in Primary Knee Arthroplasty

This book supplies all the information that the young orthopaedic surgeon needs to know when preparing to perform total or partial knee replacement for the first time and also provides more experienced surgeons with a comprehensive general update on the basics. 
After an opening section on anatomy and kinematics of the knee, patient management during the pre-, peri-, and postoperative phases is covered in detail with the aid of numerous illustrations. The final section considers postoperative patient evaluation, outcome measurements, and the value of registries. 
Readers will gain a sound understanding of the scientific basis underlying management decisions, of component design philosophies, and of the rationale for preferences such as mechanical alignment and ligament balancing. The pros and cons of a variety of management choices are explained, and guidance provided on patient selection. Surgical techniques are presented on high-quality videos and many tips and tricks are highlighted to help the inexperienced to cope with challenging situations.


Roland Becker, MD, PhD is Full Professor of Orthopeadics and Traumatology at the Brandenburg Medical School 'Theodor Fontane', Germany since 2016. He is also Ass. Professor at the Otto-von Guericke University of Magdeburg since 2011. Prof. Becker is the Head of the Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology and the Brandenburg Centre of Joint Replacement. He graduated from University in 2002 and gained his doctorate in the same year. He spent some time of his Orthopedic training in England, Switzerland and USA. Prof. Becker served for the German speaking Society of Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery (AGA) as a board member from 2006 to 2015 and was the president of AGA between 2011 to 2013. He is board member of the European Society of Knee Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology (ESSKA) since 2011, Chairman of the European Knee Associate of ESSKA from 2014 to 2018 and currently the vice President of the Society.

He has been Deputy Editor in Chief of Knee Arthroscopy Sports Traumatology and Knee Surgery (KSSTA) from 2012 to 2019 after being an Associated Editor from 2009. Prof. Becker has given over 400 presentations and published over 150 peer reviewed articles, mainly about knee. He was Editor and author of one of the most successful books about revision in total knee arthroplasty 'The unhappy total knee arthroplasty'. He also wrote a book about Basics in Knee arthroscopy and contributed to numerous other book projects. 

Prof. Hirschmann has published over 250 articles in peer-reviewed international medical journals and has led numerous books in knee surgery as editor. His research focuses on all aspects of knee surgery, but in particular on knee arthroplasty and 'unhappy patients after total knee arthroplasty'. His book 'The unhappy total knee replacement' accounts to the one of most successful books in the field of expertise.
Prof. Hirschmann is the chairman of the European Knee Associates (EKA), a section of ESSKA. He also serves as a board member of the German Knee Society (DKG). In addition, Prof. Hirschmann serves as the deputy editor in chief of Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA). He is also member of the editorial boards of various journals such as Muscle Ligaments and Tendons Journal, World Journal of Orthopedics and AP SMART Journal.