Knee implants or Replacement of Knee joint is the most commonly performed joint replacement surgeries.
Statistics show that in the United States alone more than 600,000 knee replacements are done each year. Because of increasing obese and aging population, demand for joint replacement is on an ever rise and is expected to cross 3 million by 2030.
Why Knee replacement?
Knee replacement is the most effective treatment for conditions like severe knee arthritis, osteonecrosis or knee injuries that make weight bearing on the knee joint unbearable making it extremely difficult for the person to perform even day to day activities.
Knee replacement is done to improve the condition and give more decades of functioning to the knee joint.
It is a surgical procedure in which only the worn out part (partial knee replacement) or the whole of the knee joint (total knee replacement) is replaced with an artificially made implant.
What are Knee Implants made of?
Knee replacement implants are generally made of metal (titanium or cobalt-chromium based alloys) or ceramic and plastic (polyethylene).
How long do Knee Replacement Last?
Some of the recent studies on long-term outcomes of knee implants have found that the implants function well even after 15-20 years and have greatly improved the quality of life in around 85-90% of the patients.
Approximately 90-95% of the knee implants last for about 10 years while 80-85% are good even after 20+ years of the surgery. The numbers are improving with improving technology.
The longevity of the knee implant varies from patient to patient and typically depends upon the physical condition, physical activity and weight of the patient. In addition to this, the skill of surgeon in placing the implant also plays a significant role in the life of the implant.
Practically speaking, knee implant has a high success rate and is considered relatively safe and effective way to regain knee functionality in terms of routine activities like walking, standing etc.
Activities like jogging, sports, and other strenuous activities should be considered only after a consultation with the surgeon.
What Causes Knee Implant Failures?
An artificial knee is bound to eventually wear off. The worn out components of the implant can loosen from the bone and cause pain and decreased joint functionality. Loosening is a major reason for the failure of an implant that can be resolved by a revision surgery.
In addition to loosening, any serious complication or younger implant recipients may also require revision surgery.
About 1 person in 10 may need further surgery after 10 years. Patients who have had a partial knee replacement or are overweight or are involved in heavy manual or weight lifting work are more likely to undergo revision knee replacement surgery.
Conditions mentioned above fasten the wear and tear of the implant. Just like the rubber of the car tyre wears off if the car is used a lot, the implant also wears off if used more than its capacity.
IndICure is the most renowned provider of knee replacement in India. We have on our panel few of the best orthopedic surgeons in India who operate at state of the art best hospitals in India.
The cost of knee replacement in India with IndiCure is much affordable even with the best quality implants.
For more information, you can write to us at [email protected] or call us at +91 93200 36777 or +1 877 270 2448 (US Toll Free) or talk to us at Skype @ Indicure
