Cutting away a damaged bone and cartilage from the kneecap, shinbone, and thighbone is a technique called arthroplasty. Thereafter, a synthetic joint of metal alloys, polymers, and premium plastics is used to replace it. Even very ill knee joints can regain function, which helps to reduce discomfort. Your orthopedic surgeon will evaluate your knee’s strength, stability, and degree of injury to decide whether or not knee surgery is appropriate for you. Your age, weight, knee size and shape, degree of exercise, and general health are taken into account while choosing your knee replacement prosthesis and surgical procedures. Metal and plastic caps are placed over broken bone ends to help rebuild the knee joint and the kneecap. The purpose of this procedure is to relieve the discomfort that the injured knee has been causing. The top orthopaedic doctors in India are responsible for doing this treatment.
An orthopaedic surgeon rebuilds the injured knee during a knee replacement procedure using artificial parts known as implants. These implants are constructed from robust plastic components, ceramic material, or metal alloys.
The design, positioning, and materials used in various implants vary substantially. Manufacturers are providing a variety of models and features that are tailored to the size and degree of activity of the patient, rather than being one-size-fits-all or even one-style-fits-all. The doctor’s or hospital’s choice of brand and design will be influenced by a variety of variables, including
- Based on the knee issue and the structure of the knee, as well as the patient’s age, weight, level of activity, and overall health, specific needs will be determined.
- Doctor’s background and equipment familiarity
What are the materials used in knee implants?
Metal is a frequently used implant material. There are many different types of metal alloys in use; a few of the more popular ones are as follows:
Titanium and its alloys
Because of its biocompatibility, titanium alloy has historically been the favoured material. Ti6Al4V, the most widely used titanium alloy, is utilised in knee implants.
Alloy of titanium:
Together with titanium, they mostly also include quantities of vanadium and aluminium. Because of their excellent corrosion resistance, titanium and its alloys are inert biomaterials (meaning there will be no change in them after being implanted in the body). A titanium implant can function more like a normal joint, which lowers the likelihood of certain problems such as bone atrophy and resorption. This is due to the fact that titanium and its alloys have a lesser degree of elasticity than other metals used in knee implants.
Titanium:
where great strength is not required, is mostly utilised in implants. For instance, fibre metal, a coating of metal fibres attached to the surface of an implant that allows the bone to grow into the device or helps the cement better adhere to the implant for a stronger fixation, is occasionally made from pure titanium.
Tantalum
This particular pure metal has exceptional biological and physical characteristics. Its primary characteristics are flexibility, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.
Metal Trabecular:
consists of porous tantalum that has been woven together. The material’s pore size aids in bone regeneration and creates a stronger bond between the metal and bone. Trabecular Metal also has an elastic quality, which helps with bone rebuilding.
Zirconium
Two categories of zirconium materials exist.
- Tibial component made entirely of plastic and zirconium alloy
- Oxidised zirconium made of tin
All-plastic tibial component and zirconium alloy:
A novel ceramic knee implant uses zirconium alloy as its main component. Instead of the conventional metal tray and plastic insert used in previous knee replacements, it is combined with an all-plastic tibial component. This new knee may endure for 20 to 25 years, according to experts. Advantages of this alloy are:
- Lubrication: The ability to lubricate this new combination allows for a smoother and simpler movement through plastic.
- Biocompatibility is a crucial quality of this substance. In other words, it is appropriate for those who cannot use cobalt-chromium alloy-based knee implants due to nickel allergies.
Oxidised zirconium made of tin:
The most current component for knee implants is this one. It is basically a metal alloy that has been converted with a ceramic bearing surface. It has a zirconium and niobium alloy within, which is oxidised to turn the material’s surface into zirconia ceramic. Advantages are: The rest of the implant component still contains high-tensile metal since just the metal’s surface has been altered. It is half as frictional, twice as hard as cobalt-chromium alloys, and performs better and lasts longer as a result.
Cobalt and chrome:
It is a very inert, biocompatible, robust, hard, and tough substance. It also resists corrosion. It possesses all the qualities that make a substitute knee joint suitable. The release of small metal ions owing to joint movement, such as while moving, walking, etc., is the sole drawback of this material. Most of these pieces are safe. Nonetheless, these particles can occasionally trigger bodily responses, most frequently in people who are sensitive to certain metals like nickel.
The decision will ultimately be made by the knee replacement surgeon, who will choose whichever implant or implants he or she believes are best for the circumstance and whichever product he or she has previously had experience with.
Which company makes the greatest prosthetic knees?
Nowadays, a large number of orthopaedic manufacturing businesses produce several implant types utilised in knee replacement surgery. The following characteristics should be considered when choosing an implant that is right for the patient:
- Your implant’s manufacturer and product should have a minimum of 5–10 years of effective usage.
- Before utilising this implant, your surgeon must have extensive familiarity with it.
- Depending on what you discussed with the surgeon and your current health
When compared to other nations providing the same grade of care, the cost of hip replacement surgery in India is more than half as expensive. A total of 40,000 hip arthroplasties are carried out in India each year. India is a popular destination for patients seeking affordable medical care from other nations. India is a popular medical tourism destination and home to some of the greatest orthopedic institutions in the world.
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