Research

Selected publications

Partial knee replacement – indications, surgical technique and outcomes

My scientific work on partial knee replacement has focused for many years on patient selection, indications, preoperative planning and surgical technique. In 2014, I published a review in the special issue ‘Update Gonarthrose – konservative und operative Behandlungsverfahren’ of Der Orthopäde, which Professor Tobias Renkawitz and I conceived and edited as guest editors.

In 2026, I revisited the topic in the focus on the knee published by Rheuma Schweiz, summarizing current indications, treatment concepts and scientific evidence.

• 2026 · Teilprothese des Knies – Indikationen, Operationstechnik und Ergebnisse. F. von Knoch. Rheuma Schweiz, Schwerpunkt Knie 2/2026 → Full text as PDF
• 2014 · Moderne unikondyläre Kniearthroplastik – Tipps und Tricks. F. von Knoch, U. Munzinger. Der Orthopäde 2014;43:414–424 → Open Access

Partial knee replacement – functional outcomes and extended indications

Further studies examined early functional outcomes after medial partial knee replacement compared with total knee replacement, and explored how traditional borderline indications – particularly anterior cruciate ligament deficiency – can be assessed on an individual basis.

• 2020 · Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in ACL-deficient knees is a viable treatment option: in vivo kinematic evaluation using a moving fluoroscope. Zumbrunn T, Schütz P, von Knoch F, Preiss S, List R, Ferguson SJ. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2020;28:1765–1773
• 2019 · Is ACL deficiency always a contraindication for medial UKA? Kinematic and kinetic analysis of implanted and contralateral knees. Suter L, Roth A, Angst M, von Knoch F, Preiss S, List R, Ferguson S, Zumbrunn T. Gait & Posture 2019;68:244–251
• 2018 · Short-term functional advantages after medial unicompartmental versus total knee arthroplasty. Friesenbichler B, Item-Glatthorn JF, Wellauer V, von Knoch F, Casartelli NC, Maffiuletti NA. The Knee 2018;25:638–643

Combined partial knee replacement

In two systematic reviews and international Delphi consensus studies of the European Knee Society, we examined the indications and treatment concepts for combined partial knee replacement.

• 2025 · Indications for the Addition of a Patellofemoral Joint Arthroplasty Following a Previous Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty – A Literature Review and Delphi Consensus. Jones GG, Campi S, von Knoch F, Lunebourg A, London N, Barrett D, Argenson JN. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2025;145:120
• 2024 · Bicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: a Systematic Review and Delphi Consensus from the European Knee Society. Campi S, Jones G, von Knoch F, Lunebourg A, Barrett D, London N, Argenson JN. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2024;144:4685–4696

Patellofemoral joint

The patellofemoral joint has been a clinical and scientific focus of my work for many years. In 2006, we examined the long-term outcomes of trochleoplasty for recurrent patellar dislocation and trochlear dysplasia. In 2015, I was guest editor of a special issue of Leading Opinions – Orthopädie & Rheumatologie and published an article on patellofemoral complications following total knee replacement.

• 2026 · Teilprothese des Knies – Indikationen, Operationstechnik und Ergebnisse. F. von Knoch. Rheuma Schweiz, Schwerpunkt Knie 2/2026 → Full text as PDF
• 2015 · Patellofemorale Komplikationen in der Knietotalarthroplastik. F. von Knoch, U. Munzinger. Leading Opinions – Orthopädie & Rheumatologie 2/2015 → Full text as PDF

In my 2026 review article for Rheuma Schweiz, I revisited this topic. Among other aspects, I discuss the significance of patellofemoral dysplasia for partial and total knee replacement, as well as surgical considerations for patellofemoral partial replacement.

• 2006 · Trochleaplasty for recurrent patellar dislocation in association with trochlear dysplasia. A 4- to 14-year follow-up study. von Knoch F, Böhm T, Bürgi ML, von Knoch M, Bereiter H. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery – British Volume 2006;88:1331–1335

Complex revision knee replacement

A further area of research concerns complex problems following knee replacement. A review examined the diagnosis and management of extensor mechanism failure after total knee replacement.

• 2019 · Streckapparatrekonstruktion mit Streckapparatallograft in der totalen Kniearthroplastik. F. von Knoch, U. Munzinger. Arthroskopie 2019;32:422–427

Hip arthroplasty and biomaterials research

During an earlier phase of my research, I worked on various aspects of hip arthroplasty, including implant survivorship, periprosthetic infection and surgical approaches.

A further focus was on wear particles, osteolysis and the biological response to implant materials. This work shaped my understanding of the biological and mechanical processes following joint replacement and formed an important basis for my later habilitation thesis on the interaction between biomaterials and bone after joint replacement.

• 2013 · Skin Crease (“Bikini”) Incision for Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty: Surgical Technique and Preliminary Results. Leunig M, Faas M, von Knoch F, Naal FD. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 2013;471:2245–2252 → Open Access
• 2012 · Survivorship of second-generation metal-on-metal primary total hip replacement. Neuerburg C, Impellizzeri F, Goldhahn J, Frey P, Naal FD, von Knoch M, Leunig M, von Knoch F. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2012;132:527–533
• 2012 · Retention treatment after periprosthetic total hip arthroplasty infection. Choi HR, von Knoch F, Kandil AO, Zurakowski D, Moore S, Malchau H. International Orthopaedics 2012;36:723–729

Joint replacement registries and outcome quality

During my fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, I worked with Professor Henrik Malchau on joint replacement registries and their importance for the systematic collection and improvement of clinical outcomes. This collaboration resulted in several publications on national joint replacement registries and registry-based quality control in arthroplasty.

In 2011, I was invited as first author to write the chapter on hip replacement registries in the Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Hip and Knee Reconstruction of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

• 2011 · Book chapter von Knoch F, Marchie A, Malchau H. Total Hip Arthroplasty Registry: Lessons Learned. In: Lachiewicz PF, Glassman AH, Tanzer M (eds.). Orthopaedic Knowledge Update: Hip and Knee Reconstruction 4. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2011:363–373.
• 2010 · Total Joint Registries: A Foundation for Evidence-Based Arthroplasty. von Knoch F, Marchie A, Malchau H. Virtual Mentor 2010;12(2):124–129 → Open Access
• 2009 · Why do we need a national joint replacement registry in the United States? von Knoch F, Malchau H. American Journal of Orthopedics 2009;38(10):500–503