Oxinium Knee Replacement

Over the years Total Joint Replacement is being performed in younger and more active patients. This necessitates improvement in the longevity of the implant and enhancement in their performance.

Most current femoral components in total knee replacements are made of metal (cobalt–chromium) with plastic (polyethylene) as an articulating surface. Excellent results are currently being achieved with this material, more so in elderly population. Over a prolonged period, these implants can roughen up in the body. When the femoral component then rubs over the plastic (polyethylene) insert (abrasive motion), the plastic surface starts to wear out or break up due to generation of plastic debris. The rougher the femoral surface, the worse the amount of wear. The plastic wear particles or 'debris' produced by this motion can cause Aseptic Loosening, the most important cause of failure of total knee replacement. Aseptic Loosening happens not only due to the thinning of the plastic insert itself but also due to the body's reaction to the microscopic plastic debris particles which can cause loosening and thinning of bone at the implant interface.

What is Oxinium and what are the key advantages of Oxinium?

In recent years, oxidized zirconium (OxZr) has been introduced as a revolutionary new material for articulating surface in total joint replacement. Oxinium is produced as a result of oxidation of zirconium metal thereby changing its surface property from metal to ceramic, which is harder and smoother than cobalt-chromium and has reduced wear by up to 85% in lab settings. Oxinium also has improved frictional characteristics, and excellent biocompatibility as compared to cobalt-chromium implant.

Unlike conventional cobalt-chromium implant, Oxinium implants are safe in patients suffering with metal sensitivity, as they do not contain significant levels of Nickel.