What’s New in Knee Replacement?

If you are considering knee replacement surgery, there are new developments under study which can help enhance the quality of life. These include:

• Use of cementless parts that allow new bone to grow into a porous prosthesis and hold the parts in place, creating a biologic fixation
• Use of bioactive joint surfaces such as hydroxyapatite
• Use of mobile-bearing knee replacement in which a polyethene insert creates a dual-surface articulation by articulating with the femoral as well as tibial components. This will enhance the life of the implant by reducing wear.
• Development of systems with improved kinematics
• Better fixation
• Use of navigation-guided surgery that involves the use of navigation-guided instruments with smaller incisions and less tissue damage. 

Only suitably-trained surgeons with various skills offer these procedures.