OXINIUM KNEE REPLACEMENT - THE 3O YEAR KNEE
5000 times resistant to scratching than cobalt chrome(commonly used implant material)knee , less friction and wear , one of the most biocompatable materials hence less chance of metal allergy
knee after implantation
However, newer technologies have developed improved materials for knee prosthesis such as ceramics or ceramic coated metal joint prosthesis,
a viable option for a younger patient who previously would not be a candidate for a total knee replacement. A new material called Oxinium is a type of oxidized zirconium that has been successfully utilized for both hip and knee implants. Oxinium prosthetic joints received approval of the FDA in 1996, and are designed to last nearly 90 times longer than traditional knee joints. This makes the Oxinium implant highly acceptable for younger individuals looking for knee replacement.
Oxinium for prosthetic joints are also easy for the body to tolerate as they are created of bio- compatible elements that won't affect immune system function. Oxinium also replaces nickel as a prosthetic component, enabling individuals who were formally allergic to nickel to receive the implant.
The significant advantage of Oxinium knee implants is that it is considerably harder, lasts 85 to 90 times longer. An additional advantage is that it is scratch resistance. Also Zirconium is one of the six most biocompatible elements know to man. So, the human immune system is able to tolerate the new implant more easily.
Lastly, patients who are allergic to nickel, the metal most often used in the current implants, cannot currently receive total knee replacements. The Oxinium implant, however, can be implanted safely in patients with nickel allergies, since it uses a zirconium alloy with no nickel.
Oxinium implants have been implanted in larger number of patients in the UK, Australia and the US with great success. Unfortunately, the cost of the procedure in the United States is staggering, often ranging between $65,000 and $75,000. But in countries like India and we at orthoone orthopedic and joint replacement center , bangalore perform oxinium knee replacements for about $9,000 to $11,000 without compromising on the quality of the treatment .
