This roughened surface, when rubbing against the plastic
component up to two million times per year, can more quickly wear out
your implant. When that happens, you will have to undergo surgery to
replace the plastic piece, the femoral component, and possibly even the
tibial component. For this reason, implants have been shown to last between
10 and 15 years in the
human body.
The most exciting material to enter orthopaedics in recent
years is OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium. This remarkable new material combines
the strengths of ceramic and metal, such as wear-reduction and strength,
but does not have the weaknesses, such as limited implant options and
the possibility
of fracture.
Zirconium is a biocompatible metal, similar to titanium.
When the zirconium alloy undergoes a unique heating process, the surface
of the metal transforms into a ceramic. Even though the new ceramic surface
is 4,900 times more abrasion resistant than cobalt chrome, it retains
the toughness and flexibility of the underlying metal.
Because it can achieve this remarkable reduction in implant
wear without sacrificing strength as actual ceramic components do, OXINIUM
Oxidized Zirconium implants have the potential to last significantly
longer, thus possibly reducing the need for future corrective surgeries.
The JOURNEY* knee is one of the few knees on the market
to be made with OXINIUM technology. |
