Award for Dr. Phillip Damm at DKOU for exceptional research in hip joint replacement

Prof. Maximilian Rudert, Dr. Phillip Damm, Markus Böhringer, Prof. Bernd Kladny (from left to right). © Intercongress

The award recognizes outstanding research and development work in the field of bioceramics by young doctors, engineers, and scientists. It was presented at DKOU, Berlin (German Congress for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery) by president of DGOOC, Prof. Maximilian Rudert and secretary general of DGOOC & DGOU, Prof. Bernd Kladny.

Dr. Damm’s habilitation thesis is titled ‘Friction in hip joint replacement – The unknown stress parameter in-vivo’. In his investigation, he analysed joint friction under in-vivo conditions utilizing an instrumented hip implant with a BIOLOX®forte ceramic head and a polyethylene liner.

The longitudinal study focused on a group of younger and more active hip arthroplasty patients, who are more at risk of failure due to their age and activity levels. During his research, ten patients were each fitted with a unique implant to measure, in vivo, the joint forces and friction, during different movements.

The award is particularly poignant this year after the recent passing of Prof. Heinz Mittelmeier. Prof. Rudert recognized Prof. Mittelmeier’s contributions to the field of orthopedics and his commitment to interdisciplinary exchange which earned him a worldwide reputation. He paved the way for ceramic bearing couples and standards for the future of ceramic use in arthroplasty.

List of previous Heinz Mittelmeier award recipients

Damm P. Die Reibung im Hüftgelenkersatz - der ‚un‘ bekannte in-vivo-Belastungsparameter [In vivo friction in total hip joint replecament - the 'un'known load paramater]. [Habilitation]. Berlin, Germany: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. 2023. https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/handle/fub188/39875. Accessed November 3, 2023.