Star Marianne Hartl unveils unique medical anomaly: "My ear is located on my knee"
Marianne Hartl Turns to Unconventional Treatment for Decades-Long Knee Pain
In a surprising move, folk music sensation Marianne Hartl (72) has opted for an innovative treatment method to address her long-standing knee pain.
Baldham - For several years, the popular duo of Hartls, composed of Marianne and her husband Michael (76), has been serenading fans with their enchanting Volksmusik tunes. However, behind the scenes, Marianne has been battling a chronic knee problem that has significantly impacted her performances and daily life. From climbing stairs to taking prolonged walks, the once-routine activities have now been a struggle.
An Alternative to Joint Replacement
With the prospect of undergoing a complex knee replacement surgery looming, Marianne Hartl chose a less invasive approach. She opted for autologous microtransplantation technology (AMT), an emerging treatment method for cartilage defects and degenerative joint conditions. In this innovative procedure, cartilage material is extracted from the ear and implanted into the affected knee joint.
When asked by BILD, Marianne shared her amazement at the treatment, stating, "I'm essentially wearing my ear in my knee." The procedure, carried out in February 2025, brought about the desired success, with the transplanted cartilage material stimulating the formation of new stem cells in the knee, paving the way for tissue regeneration. As a result, the folk music icon can now relish her life, free from debilitating knee pain.
Health Concerns for the Hartls
Since Michael suffered a stroke in 2022, attention to overall health and wellbeing has become paramount for the Hartls. Marianne is particularly vigilant that her husband remains safe, often checking on him throughout the night. "I make sure Michael is still breathing," she confessed in an interview with the Munich Evening News.
The implementation of AMT presents an exciting development in the realm of orthopedic medicine, offering hope to individuals like Marianne Hartl who wish to alleviate joint pain and restore function without undergoing major surgeries.
Enrichment Data
- Autologous microtransplantation technology closely aligns with advanced regenerative approaches, such as autologous chondrocyte implantation, microfracture, and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies. These treatments aim to repair or regenerate damaged cartilage and reduce inflammation.
- Clinical outcomes of autologous therapies, including AMT, have shown notable pain reduction and improved knee function in the short and medium term. For example, MSC-based therapies, which share similarities in using the patient's own cells, have been found to improve joint pain, function, and quality of life.
- Autologous therapies offer benefits like natural tissue preservation, reduced pain and inflammation, functional improvement, and minimal immunogenicity compared to allografts. However, they carry standard surgical risks, variable outcomes, and long-term data on durability are still being gathered.
- Despite her renown as a folk music sensation, Marianne Hartl has recently turned to science and health-and-wellness, specifically fitness-and-exercise and therapies-and-treatments, in the form of autologous microtransplantation technology (AMT), to address her long-standing knee pain.
- As the Hartls grapple with health concerns – following Michael's stroke in 2022 – they find themselves amidst an exciting evolution in orthopedic medicine, with innovative treatments like AMT offering the potential for joint pain alleviation, function restoration, and improved quality of life, through advanced regenerative approaches such as autologous chondrocyte implantation, microfracture, and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies.
