New Oxinium™ technology has resulted in an implant that should last longer and allow you to resume activities with less fear of a repeat replacement surgery.  As a person suffering from osteoarthritis or another form of degenerative joint disease, chances are that someday you may need knee replacement surgery.  As the time draws nearer, you'll have many questions for your orthopaedic surgeon:

But a question that you probably are not thinking about asking is which kind of implant device you will be receiving. What is it made of, and why is your doctor using a particular kind of device?

Oxinium™ oxidized zirconium is the name of the material, and it is now being used in knee replacements. Because of its superior hardness, smoothness and resistance to scratching and abrasion, you can expect to receive an implant that should be long-lasting and allow you to resume normal activities with less fear of undergoing a repeat replacement surgery.  The Oxinium material has undergone over 14 years of research, development and testing, and has been successfully used in more than 20,000 patients over the past several years.

A common issue with knee replacements is what surgeons refer to as "wear." Any time two moving parts (like the two parts in your knee joint) rub against each other repeatedly, friction occurs and tiny scratches can result, causing tiny fragments of material to come off over time.  This effect is a main reason a joint may "fail" and an individual will undergo repeat surgery. The Oxinium material has proven to be a superior metal for use in the production of knee implants due to its hardness, smoothness and resistance to scratching and abrasion. This superior strength results in less wear than cobalt chrome, historically the material of choice for knees.

Several key technical facts you will be interested in:

• The Oxinium material incorporates the best features of ceramic and cobalt chrome without the risks associated with either.
• The Oxinium material is the result of a process that allows oxygen to absorb into zirconium metal, which changes only its surface from a metal to ceramic.
• The ceramic surface reduces friction between the implant device and the plastic component or cartilage, meaning less potential for wear and a device that should last longer.
• The Oxinium material is harder than commonly used cobalt chrome, and with only the surface changing during the manufacturing process, the rest of the implant remains metal to maintain its overall strength.
• The Oxinium material is 4,900 times more resistant to scratching than cobalt chrome for superior durability overtime.
• The Oxinium material contains no detectable nickel, the leading cause of negative reactions in patients with metal allergies.

Oxinium™ Implant Benefits:

You owe it to yourself to ask Dr. Rogerson now and find out more about what the Power of Ox can do for you!  Why wait?

I didn't realize that an implant undergoes friction and scratching. What does this do to an implant?
To date, cobalt chrome has been the material of choice for joint implants because of its strength and relative hardness. However, studies have shown that cobalt chrome implants roughen overtime when implanted in your body. As a result, every time a roughened replacement joint rubs against the plastic bearing surface, the plastic surface begins to wear out.  Laboratory studies have demonstrated that even a single scratch on the cobalt chrome surface can increase the rate of plastic wear by 10 times. Over time, the plastic surface wears out, and additional surgery is necessary to replace the worn implants. Recent studies have proven through controlled wear testing that a "scratched" or "roughened" cobalt chrome implant will dramatically increase the production of plastic wear debris, and substantially reduce the life span of an implant.

I am in pain, but my orthopaedic surgeon has advised me to wait for my replacement because I'm too young. Why will an Oxinium joint replacement be different?
In the past, orthopaedic surgeons have advised patients under 65 years of age to wait to have joint replacement surgery because the life span of traditional cobalt chrome implants is limited. Now, with a long lasting Oxinium knee implant, surgeons have a viable option for a younger patient who previously would not have been a candidate for a joint replacement.  Therefore, a younger patient who has advanced arthritis no longer has to suffer for years until he or she reaches an appropriate age for joint replacement surgery.

Are Oxinium replacements proven?
Yes, orthopaedic surgeons have been using Oxinium joint replacements for more than eight years, in over 20,000 patients, with great success. In addition, the Oxinium material and Oxinium joint replacements have been rigorously tested to meet regulatory and testing guidelines and must pass strict quality control measures prior to use.

What is the new Oxinium material, how is it made?
First, zirconium alloy metal is shaped into an implant component. Second, the implant is put through a patented process that allows oxygen to absorb into the zirconium metal. When the surface of the metal is saturated with oxygen, it changes from a metal to a ceramic. It is this ceramic surface that gives the Oxinium material the significant advantages over cobalt chrome. Because only the surface is changed, the rest of the component is still metal, and therefore the implant retains its overall strength.

Can Oxinium implants be used with new, minimally-invasive approaches?
Yes. Smith & Nephew has pioneered the development of minimally-invasive instruments and techniques which can be used with all Oxinium knee implants.  For more information about Oxinium, visit www.StrongAsAnOx.com

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3/1/2006

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