Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery was first performed in 1968 and to date, it has gone through numerous changes that made it more effective and patient-friendly. With the increased incidence of Osteoarthritis in younger age group, more & more developments are needed to prolong the life of the artificial implant. One such effort is Cementless TKR.
To understand any new technique, one must be able to answer 3 basic questions about the same, which are What, Why and How. So let’s discuss them as follows
What is Cementless Knee Replacement?
TKR is a replacement of the degenerated surface of the knee joint. In normal (cemented) TKR, cement acts as the Glue that sticks the metallic implant with the raw bone surface, but in Cementless TKR as the name indicates, cement is not used but the implant is directly fitted with the bone surface.
Why Choose Uncemented Total Knee Replacement?
Although in cemented TKR, cement plays a crucial role in holding the implant in position, there are some obvious risks involved with the use of Cement which includes
- Micro-embolism – tiny granules (emboli) of cement may enter the bloodstream and cause obstruction of blood flow to Essential organs like Heart, Brain, Lungs or Kidneys etc.
- Non-biological fixation – the layer of cement between the metallic implant and the bone does not induce the new bone formation
- Thermal osteonecrosis – Cement setting (hardening) is an Exothermic reaction (associated with the release of Heat), that may in long run affect the raw bony surface causing necrosis of the same
- Implant loosening/Bony lysis – although rare but there is a possibility of the cemented implant loosening with wear & tear and may require Revision TKR
How does a Cementless Total Knee Replacement work?
In Cementless TKR the artificial implant is porous and Hydroxyapatite (HA) coated. HA coating makes the metallic surface Osteoinductive, in other words, it makes the surface stimulate the new bone formation and being porous makes the new bone grow into the implant surface and incorporate the metallic implant with the bone. The advantages of cementless TKR being
- The biological fit / better fit of the implant
- Less implant loosening
- High primary stability
- Most ideal for Younger patients
- Shorter surgical time
At Saishree Hospital Pune, our proficient team of orthopedic surgeons has been helping people receive the most recent advancement in the field of surgery. We believe in coordinating with every patient and establishing a transparent treatment method, for quality is what this hospital has always prioritized on.