“Today, I am still walking without pain. Although one leg is slightly shorter than the other, this does not cause any problems. I am able to cycle, skate, and even ski.”

Early Injury and Long-Term Consequences (1968–2002)

It all began in 1968 with a complicated leg fracture sustained during a football game. At the time, the fracture was incorrectly reduced, which caused both my foot and knee to be misaligned. Over the next twenty years, this led to significant problems, including difficulty walking and progressively increasing knee pain due to osteoarthritis.

The first surgical attempt to correct the abnormal alignment failed completely, and at one point my leg was even at risk of amputation. Eventually, I was referred to Dr. Van Roermund, who offered a solution not only for the malalignment but also for the osteoarthritis in my knee joint.

Dr. Van Roermund had achieved good results using joint distraction for painful osteoarthritic ankle joints. However, knee joint distraction had never been performed before. Despite this, I was in such severe pain and had such confidence in him that I agreed to become the first patient in the world to undergo this treatment. The procedure was performed in 2002 and produced good results.

Recurrence and Knee Replacements (2016–2019)

In 2016, the knee pain returned. Two years later, in 2018, I received a total knee replacement—16 years after the knee joint distraction procedure. One year later, my other knee was also replaced with a total knee prosthesis.

It is remarkable that my total knee replacement could be postponed for such a long time.

Life Today

Today, I am still walking without pain. Although one leg is slightly shorter than the other, this does not cause any problems. I am able to cycle, skate, and even ski.

As a volunteer at a vineyard, where I regularly give tours, I walk frequently on uneven terrain without difficulty. I can easily walk 10 kilometers before I feel any discomfort.

It truly feels wonderful.