• MD awarded at RWTH Aachen University (magna cum laude)
• 1995 – 2003 Medical School of RWTH (Polytechnic University), Aachen, Germany

• Since 2018 Co-Lead Limb Reconstruction Unit, Dept. of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Neuroorthopaedics, Children’s Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
• 2013 Orthopaedic Staff Surgeon/ Fellow of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Murnau Trauma Center, Reconstructive Pediatric Orthopedics
• 2011 – 2013 Senior Resident, Murnau Trauma Center, Murnau, Germany, Dept. of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery
• 2009 – 2011 Resident, Endogap Joint Replacement Center, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
• 2008 – 2009 Resident, Spine Center Munich-Harlaching
• 2007 – 2008 AO Spine Fellowship, Department of Trauma Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Innsbruck, Austria

• 2016 Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Children’s Hospital Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich
• 2015 Specialty Paediatric Orthopaedics (Bavarian Medical Board Certificate)
• 2015 Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon, Trauma Center Murnau and German Center for Paediatric Rheumatology, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• 2011 Specialty Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (Bavarian Medical Board Certificate)
• 2009 Emergency Physician (Bavarian Medical Board Certificate)
• 2003 – 2007 Residency, Department of General & Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center, Aachen, Germany

• Development of a mechanically adaptable biomaterial for manufacturing personalized orthopaedic implants
• Basic research on understanding and optimizing bone healing capacity
• Organotypic bone model towards animal-free orthopaedic research
• Orthopaedic management of metabolic bone disorders
• Constitution of a European OI research network

• Since 2017 Clinician Scientist, Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

1. Von Rüden C, Dietz SO, Schmittenbecher P, Fernandez FF, Lieber J, Wilkens B, Rüger M, Schneidmueller D. Pediatric aseptic lower leg fracture nonunion. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2020 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s00068-020-01556-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33263815.
2. Heidt C, Grueberger N, Grisch D, Righini-Grunder F, Rueger M, Ramseier L. The Assessment of Steroid Injections as a Potential Risk Factor for Osteochondral Lesions in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Cartilage. 2020 Sep 27:1947603520961173.
3. Rüger M, Sellei RM, Stoffel M, von Rüden C. The Effect of Polymethyl Methacrylate Augmentation on the Primary Stability of Cannulated Bone Screws in an Anterolateral Plate in Osteoporotic Vertebrae: A Human Cadaver Study. Global Spine J. 2016 Feb;6(1):46-52.
4. Lauen J, Schnell H, Rüger M. Möglichkeiten der Achs- und Längenkorrektur beim Heranwachsenden. Trauma Berufskrankh 17, 170–177 (2015). doi: 10.1007/s10039-014-2124-0
5. von Rüden C, Woltmann A, Röse M, Wurm S, Rüger M, Hierholzer C, Bühren V. Outcome after severe multiple trauma: a retrospective analysis. J Trauma Manag Outcomes. 2013 May 15;7(1):4.
6. Sellei RM, Lank C, Becher T, Knobe M, Rüger M, Spies CK, Schmitt T, Peters J, Erli HJ. Eine optimierte Bewertung "Schwerverletzter" zur Dokumentation von Unfallschwerpunkten im Straßenverkehr [An optimised assessment of "severely injured patients" for the documentation of road traffic accident black spots]. Z Orthop Unfall. 2011 Jun;149(3):279-87. German.
7. Rüger M, Gensior TJ, Herren C, König S, Erli HJ, von Walter M. The removal of Al2O3 particles from the surface of grit-blasted Ti implants improves biocompatibility and biological interface in vivo. Acta Biomaterialia 2010, ISSN 1742-7061.
8. Rüger M, Schmoelz W. Vertebroplasty with high-viscosity polymethylmethacrylate cement facilitates vertebral body restoration in vitro. Spine 2009 Nov 15;34(24):2619-25.
9. von Walter M, Herren C, Gensior TJ, Steffens GCM, Hermanns-Sachweh B, Jahnen-Dechent W, Rüger M and Erli HJ. Biomimetic modification of the TiO2/glass composite Ecopore with heparinized collagen and the osteoinductive factor BMP-2. Acta Biomaterialia, 2008.
10. Erli HJ, Rüger M, Ragoss C, Jahnen-Dechent W, Hollander DA, Paar O, von Walter M. The effect of surface modification of a porous TiO2/perlite composite on the ingrowth of bone tissue in vivo. Biomaterials. 2006 Mar;27(8):1270-6.
11. von Walter M, Rüger M, Ragoss C, Steffens GCM, Hollander D, Paar O, Maier HR, Jahnen-Dechent W,  Bosserhoff AK, Erli HJ In vitro behavior of a porous TiO2/perlite composite and its surface modification with fibronectin. Biomaterials. 2005 Jun;26(16):2813-26.

In submission / under review:

1. Biomaterials: A novel, titanium fibre-based orthopaedic biomaterial with anisotropic mechanical properties. Matthias Rüger, Andreas Martin Seitz, Daniel Seitz, Christoph Heidt, Caitlyn Collins
2. Gait & Posture: Simplified Digital Balance Assessment in Typically Developing School Children. Christoph Heidt, Matia Iva Vrankovic, Alejandro Mendoza, Karsten Hollander, Thomas Dreher, Matthias Rüger