Touchdown! New Knee Implant Scores with Younger Patients

This statement is heard by thousands of patients each year who are younger than 65, suffering from chronic, sometimes crippling, knee pain, but are not candidates for surgery because of their age.

"Traditionally, most candidates for knee replacement surgery were age 65 and older because surgeons did not expect the materials used in conventional artificial joints to withstand wear placed on them for more than 10 to 15 years," said D. Kelly Agnew, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Tri Rivers Surgical Associates. "These traditional replacements are occasionally used in younger patients who are in dire need, but only under rare circumstances because of the risk involved."

But thanks to new implant technology, active, younger patients who suffer from arthritis or chronic injury now may have access to knee replacement surgery much earlier in life.

What’s the difference between the two protheses?

Conventional knee implants are made from metal that slides against a plastic bearing. Daily motion and wear damage the plastic bearing surfaces and produce wear debris. New implants have ceramic coating on the ends, which produces less friction and resists roughening. The new implant feels the same to patients, looks the same on an X-ray, but differs in longevity.

"Durability makes these replacements an alternative for younger, more physically active patients, who, in the past, might not have been candidates for knee replacement due to the limited life of the implant," Dr, Agnew said.

The surgery, which usually takes about two hours, involves removing the deteriorated joint and replacing it with a prosthesis designed to function just like a normal joint. Most patients are released from the hospital within three to five days and require several weeks of physical therapy to build strength.

"Following total joint replacement, patients typically experience dramatic reduction in pain and stiffness, and often find they can do things they haven’t done in quite some time," Dr. Agnew said. "The surgery has more than a 90 percent patient satisfaction rate — with the majority of patients experiencing pain relief and improved mobility."