Technology of partial knee replacement

Smith & Nephew

A surgeon’s long-term goal for the procedure is an extended life for the partial 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 standard cobalt chrome metal partial knee implants. The OXINIUM^◊ material has proven to be a far superior metal for use in production of partial knee implants because of its hardness, smoothness and resistance to abrasion
and scratching.

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

Laboratory wear testing has indicated that OXINIUM^◊ partial knee implants demonstrate the scratch and wear resistance necessary to be long lasting. The smooth, hard surface of an OXINIUM^◊ partial 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 with your orthopaedic surgeon to determine if an OXINIUM^◊ partial knee replacement is the right option for you.

Technology of partial knee replacement

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