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  Recent
advances in biomedical engineering software have opened a new chapter in
high performance knee implants.
One remarkable breakthrough has been the creation of the JOURNEY knee, a
first-of-its-kind knee replacement that combines the stability and natural
motion of the human knee with new low-friction materials that may extend the
life of the implant.
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Healthy Knee
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JOURNEY knee |
While the lifespan of a knee implant is heavily influenced by the materials
used to make it, the natural feeling of the implant during physical activity
is dependent upon the way the patient's muscles, ligaments and tendons are
addressed during surgery and by the implant's shape within the body after
surgery.
The knee is a hinge joint, but it does not swing like a simple door hinge.
It has a complex rotational motion that you don't notice is there—but many
patients know when it's not there after total knee replacement. Traditional
implants do not accurately recreate this subtle swing- and-rotate action.
As a result of these traditional designs, the muscles and ligaments around
the new joint have to work harder because the implant's slightly unnatural
shape and resulting motion make these soft tissues move in unfamiliar,
stressful ways. This leads to joint pain, muscle fatigue and the unnatural
feeling patients experience while walking or bending in the months
after their procedure.
The JOURNEY knee, on the other hand, is the only knee implant designed to
reproduce the original internal shapes and angled forces of the human knee
through its full range of motion—accommodating the swing-and-rotate of the
joint with the same engineering principles your real knee currently uses.
Because of this, your soft tissues don't have to readjust to new shapes and
forces after surgery and your stride can return to its natural rhythm.
The JOURNEY knee also reproduces the stability provided by your anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) and your posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Your ACL
and PCL are key to the stability of your real joint and contribute to
natural motion when your knee is fully extended and fully bent. No other
knee implant reproduces both functions.
ORDER THE RESOURCE GUIDE: For joint pain sufferers and those who care
about them, the life in action resource guide helps you organize your
treatment options and other information you will need to get your life back
in action. Record your symptoms and medical information and take the guide
with you on visits to your physician's office, in preparation for discussing
your treatment options.
For more information about knee replacement surgery, visit
www.MyLifeInAction.com.
*Trademark of Smith & Nephew. | |