Faster recovery, shorter hospital stays: The “Fast Track” program for hip and knee replacement surgery at Cracau Hospital
The Cracau Clinic at Pfeiffers, part of Magdeburg University Medical Center has been the first facility in the region to adopt the modern “Fast Track” joint replacement treatment concept for hip and knee surgeries since fall 2025. This method not only enables patients to recover significantly faster but also increases the efficiency of procedures in the operating room and on the wards.
The “Fast Track” concept (English for “accelerated treatment”) encompasses a series of interrelated measures—from individualized preparation (“prehabilitation”) and patient education, through optimized anesthesia and surgical techniques, to early mobilization just a few hours after the procedure. Catheters, drains, and excessive use of opioids are consistently avoided, as are long periods of “fasting” prior to the procedure.
Photo: The team at the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery with Chief of Staff Prof. Dr. Nils Follak (fifth from the left) and Senior Physician Dr. Tobias Goldbach (first from the left). Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/UMMD
Patients benefit in several ways:
- they are back on their feet just three hours after surgery with the help of physical therapists,
- they can typically be discharged two to three days earlier than before,
- and the complication rate drops significantly due to the shorter hospital stay.
“The most important thing is that our patients are back on their feet faster and can return to their familiar surroundings sooner—all while maintaining a high level of safety,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Niels Follak, Chief of the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery. “We see that this approach is highly valued by those affected.”
There are also clear benefits for the clinic: Thanks to standardized procedures and the shorter treatment duration, more patients can be treated in a comparable amount of time. “We’ve had very positive experiences in our initial trials—feedback from both patients and staff has been consistently enthusiastic,” adds Dr. Tobias Goldbach, senior physician at the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery.
Photo: Senior Physician Dr. Goldbach is providing follow-up care for the patient whom he operated on using the “Fast Track” joint replacement procedure. Photographer: Melitta Schubert/UMMD
The “Fast Track” program is used at the Cracau Clinic at Pfeiffers every day for all elective (scheduled) hip and knee joint replacements, provided there are no medical contraindications.
Background
The average length of stay following hip or knee replacement surgery in Germany is currently still five to ten days. With the “Fast Track” procedure, this can be reduced to about four days—without compromising the quality of care.