The evolution of artificial knee joint design is an ongoing process.
Severe injury or arthritic deterioration could result in your doctor suggesting that you consider knee replacement surgery. A highly experimental surgery through the 1940s and 1950s, the first modern artificial knee was implanted in 1968. Today, the process of implanting artificial knees in damaged joints has become a common method to help patients regain quality of life. There are different types of artificial knee joints. Consultation with your orthopedic doctor will help you decide which might be best for your situation.
Total Cemented
A total artificial knee involves the implantation of either two or three components. In all cases a prosthetic will be attached to the lower part of the fibula, and another to the upper part of the tibia. A thin wafer of polyethylene plastic fits between the two and functions as cartilage. Some joint replacement surgeries also include a separate component that acts as an artificial knee cap. The first type of artificial joint is called "cementless," which refers to the practice of using porous material in the implant, so that the bone can grow through it and anchor the new joint solidly through natural means.
Total Uncemented
The design of an uncemented artificial knee is similar but, rather than a porous material, the new joint is created to be used with a sturdy glue-like adhesive to hold it in place. The uncemented option is recommended in cases where the patient is older and less active. The medical field has not yet developed a cement that is as impervious to the stress and strain of everyday life as when the natural bone is allowed to make the connection. However, many people who receive artificial knees are past the point in their life of bone growth, so the cemented option is suggested.
Partial Replacement
In the event the knee pain is localized to a particular area of the knee, your surgeon might choose to use a unicompartmental knee implant. In essence, this type of artificial knee borrows a single component from the total knee replacement design. Using a process sometimes referred to as a partial knee replacement, the surgery requires a smaller incision and less collateral damage to tendons, ligaments and soft tissue. As a rule of thumb, surgeons consider less surgical intrusion to be preferable.
Materials
Artificial knees are built from a variety of metals and metal alloys. Common choices by manufacturers are stainless steel, steel, chrome, titanium and cobalt. Research is ongoing to find the strongest, longest-lasting combination of raw materials because, most patients would prefer to undergo the surgical process as few times as possible.
Tags: artificial knee, knee replacement, knee replacement surgery, porous material, replacement surgery, type artificial