[Quo vadis arthroplasty?].
The application of alloarthroplasties is exactly the epochal event for the locomotor apparatus, and by it's importance in orthopedic surgery, it presents, perhaps the greatest progress in the last fifty years. However, the question, what will generally happen with arthroplasties in the future ("quo vadis"), still remains open. Namely, in spite of it's great success, the problem of alloplastic joint replacement has not yet been solved entirely. This mainly relates to the so-called biomechanical synthesis, in other words, the mutual relationship of the implant with the organism in a biological and mechanical sense. The frequent occurrence of endoprosthesis loosening during long-term use is the most important problem of alloarthroplasty, and still remains "problem number one". The optimal success of alloplastic joint replacement could be achieved only if the endoprosthesis could be not only tolerated by the organism, but constitute a lasting functional whole together with it. However, it seems that the endoprosthesis will never be a permanent, constituent part of the organism, but this can be the case for only a certain amount of time. In the search for more permanent results, joint transplantation will be attempted once again, which would be of great importance for younger patients, and the contemporary achievements of microsurgery and immunology would be of great significance for it's possible success.