We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
ARAB HEALTH - INFORMA

Download Mobile App




Ceramic Knee Replacement Lasts Longer

By HospiMedica staff writers
Posted on 26 Feb 2001
Print article
More than two years of clinical trials at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York (NY, USA) show good results for a ceramic total knee replacement. The hospital is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases.

The knee is designed for younger patients in their late 40s to early 50s who need a total knee replacement. Other replacement prostheses are made of a plastic tibial component and metal (cobalt chrome alloy) femoral component and are estimated to last about 15-20 years. By substituting a metal (zirconium alloy) femoral component with a ceramic surface, the developers have reduced the wear on the joint caused by the tibial and femoral components rubbing against each other. This lengthens the life expectancy of the new knee to 20-25 years. The ceramic knee is the product of Smith & Nephew Orthopedics (Memphis, TN, USA)

Other advantages of the ceramic knee include scratch resistance and a smoother articulation with the plastic tibial component that reduces wear. In addition, the material is extremely biocompatible and contains no nickel. Therefore, it can be used by patients who are allergic to nickel. Traditionally, cobalt-chrome alloys used for total knee components could not be used by such patients. The ceramic knee has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to Dr. Richard Laskin, chief of the Arthroplasty Council at HSS, more patients with severe arthritis are being seen earlier in life. "Until now, these patients were advised to postpone the replacement surgery and deal with the pain. This new ceramic knee will offer dramatic pain relief to patients in their late 40s and 50s and will hopefully last much longer.”



Related Links:
Hospital for Special Surgery
Smith & Nephew Orthopedics
Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
New
Single-Use Instrumentation
FASTPAK
New
Clinical Display
C14S

Print article

Channels

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The portable biosensor platform uses printed electrochemical sensors for the rapid, selective detection of Staphylococcus aureus (Photo courtesy of AIMPLAS)

Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections

Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The acoustic pipette uses sound waves to test for biomarkers in blood (Photo courtesy of Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder)

Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour

Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.