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Founder of EPOS

Mentor of many colleagues around the world

Doctor with empathy for all his patients

Friend to all of us

We miss you…

EPOS

Professor Tönnis was one of the most active and well-known hip specialists in Europe and around the world. He had dedicated his life to the diagnostic and treatment of many disorders, among them, hip joint diseases.

Dietrich was born 1927 in Würzburg at the Rotkreuz Krankenhaus. Already in childhood, he was enthusiastic about engineering and the building of wooden models of various ships and other subjects. He spent his school time in Berlin, Bochum and Cologne due to several moves of his family for professional reasons. After graduation at the medical school in Munich, he took his internship in Munich and New Jersey, showing already in the 1950s his interest in international relationships which he intensified throughout his whole career. After some years in research both at the Institute for Physiology and the Department of Neurology at the University of Cologne, he started his orthopaedic training in Berlin and Munich, where he obtained both his doctoral and PhD degree (Habilitation for Professorship).

In 1970, he was elected as chairman of the Orthopaedic Department at the General Hospital in Dortmund and became a lecturer associated to the University of Münster.

As we all know, Professor Tönnis’ main interest was the hip joint and especially the dysplastic hip. He was responsible for many years for the national study group on hip dysplasia and many of these data form the basis of his famous textbook “Hüftdysplasie,” which became the standard textbook in Germany and, also, after its translation into English, around the world.

Dietrich Tönnis published numerous papers and contributed greatly to the understanding of the hip joint in all planes, especially his recent studies on reduced femoral ante-torsion. With new imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), he showed the relationship of ante-version of the socket and ante-torsion of the femoral head, of which both articulating partners could contribute to instability and impingement. Early in his career, he also focussed on the analysis of complications like avascular necrosis (AVN), the pathomechanisms and strategies to reduce complications associated with both non-operative as well as operative treatment modalities. His work helped numerous patients with deformities and acquired diseases, but also inspired future scientists and surgeons through his consistent and inspiring approach to complex scientific areas.

Our friend Dietrich was co-founder of the German Society of Paediatric Orthopaedics “Vereinigung für Kinderorthopädie”, the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society and he was awarded by honorary membership in several national and international societies. In 2008 at our Warsaw meeting, he received one of the most prestigious awards, the “Pro maximis meritis medal” of EPOS.

Dietrich was not only a professional surgeon and researcher, but also a beloved husband, father and grandfather and an enthusiastic golfer. He loved travelling, archaeology and arts. His wife, Margret, gave him great support until his very end and our thoughts and feelings are with Margret, their children and grandchildren.

We will keep Dietrich to our best memory and will never forget his great personality.