Research shows women and men are different from their brain cells to their bones, joints included, which is why women with painful knees now have a total knee replacement specifically shaped to fit them. Dr. Kenneth Wiencek, orthopedic surgeon at Three Rivers Health, is among the first surgeons in the Southwest Michigan-area to offer the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee, the first and only knee replacement shaped to fit a woman’s anatomy.
Nearly two-thirds of the more than 478,000 annual knee replacement patients are women, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, and the numbers continue to increase each year. Yet research shows that while both women and men vastly under use knee replacement, women are three times less likely than men to undergo the procedure, although they suffer from more knee pain and resulting disability. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports knee replacement can substantially reduce pain and improve function and quality of life.
“The new Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee, the only knee shaped and sized to optimally fit the female knee, should make women more open to having a knee replacement,” Dr. Wiencek said. All other implants being used for total knee replacement are based upon an average between women’s and men’s knees.
“The Gender Solutions Knee is based on Zimmer’s NexGen Knee, which is the most successful replacement knee on the market today, so it offers the best of all worlds – a highly successful implant with high flexion capabilities that is now designed to fit and feel more like a woman’s natural knee,” said Dr. Wiencek.
The goals of the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee include alleviating knee pain and restoring mobility, while offering fit and function that are optimized for the characteristics more commonly seen in female patients. Further, it:
· can be implanted using less-invasive techniques, which typically offer smaller scars, shorter hospitalization, and quicker recovery; and
· safely accommodates high flexion, which is necessary for many activities involving deep bending.
Dr. Wiencek implants the Zimmer Gender Knee in such a way as to cause less tissue disruption and pain, and provide the ability to perform more exercises on day one following surgery.
Understanding the knee’s anatomy.
The knee joint is composed of three bones: the end of the femur (thighbone), the top of the tibia (shinbone), and the patella (kneecap), which are all held together by tendons and ligaments and cushioned by cartilage. Knees can become painful due to arthritis, injury, and infection, which cause deterioration of the cartilage. When the cartilage is gone, the bones of the knee grind against each other, wearing away and typically causing severe pain. Total knee replacement involves removing the portion of bone that is damaged and resurfacing the knee with metal and plastic implants.
“Orthopedics has made significant progress in the last decade with improvements on all fronts, from pain management to less-invasive surgery that gets people back to their lives sooner,” said Cheryl Blanchard, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer for Zimmer. “A knee that better meets the needs of two-thirds of the knee replacement population is a logical next step.”
Understanding a woman’s knee.
The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee is designed based on a sophisticated and highly detailed map of the joint created using three-dimensional imaging and three distinct and scientifically documented shape differences between women’s and men’s knees:
1. Thinner Profile – The bone in the front of a woman’s knee is typically less prominent than in a man’s. Traditional implants have a thickness in front that may end up feeling “bulky,” which may result in pain and a decrease in range of motion. The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee has a thinner profile to accommodate this anatomical difference between women and men.
2. More Natural Movement – The angle between the hip and the knee affects how the kneecap moves over the thighbone when the knee is in motion. Women have a distinct shape which frequently results in a different angle between the hip and the knee when compared to men. The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee accounts for this difference, allowing for more natural movement.
3. Contoured Shape – The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee has a contoured shape to more closely match the narrower anatomy of a woman’s knee. This contouring provides for a more precise fit and may prevent the implant from overhanging the bone and potentially pressing on or damaging surrounding ligaments and tendons.
For more information about the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee, call Surgical Services, the office of Dr. Kenneth Wiencek, at (269) 273-8471, on the campus of Three Rivers Health.
The Zimmer Mobile Learning Center will visit the front campus of Three Rivers Health on Thursday, November 6th, from 9am to 3pm. Visitors can tour the Center, learn about managing joint pain, including different options for severe arthritis, and learn more about joint replacements, including the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee.
By the numbers
· Americans are undergoing more than 478,000 knee replacements a year, a number expected to reach a stunning 3.4 million by 2030 as the population ages.
· Americans are getting 234,000 total hip replacements a year, a number expected to more than double by 2030.
· A total of 40,000 knee revisions (replacements of implants) and 46,000 hip revisions were done in 2004, the latest data available. Knee revisions are expected to increase sevenfold and hip revisions to more than double by 2030.
– Associated Press
Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons |