Knee Replacement for Younger Patients

Increasingly, young people are beginning to suffer knee joint injuries just as much as older individuals and these injuries may sideline potential sports careers, diminished range of motion, and ultimately lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Young men and women are starting to experience joint pain, lack of mobility and frozen knees caused by arthritis, osteoporosis, and other medical conditions more common in older individuals. Once the damage is done, replacement is often the only solution for a young person’s knees.

Unfortunately, the cost of the procedure in the US is often more than individuals can afford. It is not uncommon for the cost to be between $65,000 and $75,000. Many parents can find quality surgery for their teens abroad that restore mobility and flexibility for about $12,000.

Orthopedic surgeons have historically been reluctant to offer young patients knee joint replacement surgical options because they typically have higher activity levels than older patients, and most standard knee implants usually last between 10 and 15 years. New knee implant technologies approved by the FDA have changed that as implants are available now that are designed to last for 30 to 35 years.

Oxinium a new oxidized zirconium material has been used successfully for both hip and knee implants since approval by the FDA in 1996. Oxinium knee joints are made of metal composites coated with ceramic, infused and then coated with oxygen to create an extremely durable joint replacement that lasts nearly 90 times longer than the more common knee joints. Because of the strong compounds used in this implant and the fact that they offer excellent wear resistance, the new joint is ideal for younger individuals who suffer from limited range of motion, on-going pain, stiffness and lack of mobility from knee injuries or other medical conditions. Because they are created of bio- compatible elements, these new prosthetic joints are also easy for the body to tolerate and won’t as readily irritate the immune system. Oxinium also is used in place of nickel, enabling people who are allergic to nickel to receive the implant.

The key benefit of the new Oxinium implant is that it is an ideal joint implant for younger patients who require knee surgery because of its effectiveness when dealing with patients who typically provide more stress on the implant through their activities. Other benefits include: non-degrading sterilization, improved patellar tracking, increased contact area, tightest tibial insert locking mechanism, and a highly polished tibial base plate.