OXINIUMSNTM

Oxidized Zirconium

Smith & Nephew

A surgeon’s long-term goal for the procedure is an extended life for the total knee replacement. In just the last few years, a technologically advanced bearing material, called OXINIUM^◊ Oxidized Zirconium was introduced to reduce the wear rate over the standard cobalt chrome metal total knee implants. The OXINIUM^◊ material has proved to be a far superior metal for use in production of total knee implants because of its hardness, smoothness and resistance to abrasion and scratching.

Physically active patients can have the utmost confidence in an OXINIUM^◊ implant because it demonstrates such low wear rates in lab testing. Patients who desire a return to an active lifestyle may also benefit from OXINIUM^◊ total knee implants because they are better able to tolerate activity and may last longer than traditional cobalt chrome total knee implants.

Laboratory wear testing has indicated that OXINIUM^◊ total knee implants demonstrate the scratch and wear resistance necessary to be long lasting. The smooth, hard surface of an OXINIUM^◊ total knee implant is the result of a process that allows oxygen to absorb into zirconium metal, which changes only its surface from metal to ceramic. The ceramic surface makes OXINIUM^◊ implants 4,900 times more abrasion resistant than cobalt chrome and reduces friction between the implant and plastic surface.

Talk to your orthopaedic surgeon to determine if an OXINIUM^◊ total knee replacement is the right option for you.

Click here to read more about Total Knee Replacement

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