(1888PressRelease)
December 01, 2008 - Knee replacements are usually performed in older people. Until now young patients afflicted with knee arthritis had no hope at all. In what is seen as a dawn of hope, a young patient with knee arthritis got a Total knee replacement by an enterprising Orthopaedic surgeon in Chennai. Francois Adriaans, a Dutch male patient received a knee replacement made of Zirconium. This unique operation was performed for the first time in South India. He is perhaps one of the youngest patients in India and definitely the youngest patient in the Netherlands to undergo a total knee replacement. This knee replacement was implanted utilizing navigation or computer assisted surgery (CAS ).
The patient is recovering well in hospital. His successful knee surgery opens the gates of hope to thousands of young patients languishing in India and around the world with arthritic knees.
The Oxinium knee is a patented product of Smith & Nephew. It is made of Zirconium a metal. Zirconium is super heated in the presence of Oxygen which converts the surface layer into a ceramic. It thus acquires the beneficial properties of both metals and ceramic. Particularly its hardness and scratch resistance bestows it with unique advantages. Other advantages are its tolerability by the body and low coefficient of friction.
Computer assisted surgery or navigation was used to ensure precise placement of the implant as the surgery was being done for a young patient where perfection really matters. Moreover the patient had additional deformities in the bones of his thigh which rendered the use of conventional instruments impossible.
Although hip resurfacings are being done in young patients, this is perhaps the first time that a knee replacement was done for a young patient. A total knee replacement sometimes becomes necessary in young patients when they have run out of all options and have to endure a life of pain from a painful arthritic knee. Even in India, there are many patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, post traumatic arthritis, Gout, avascular necrosis of the knee needing joint replacement. There is no doubt that this good news will be received with great glee by these young patient says Dr. Venkatachalam of www.kneeindia.com
###
