Nowadays, we’re seeing younger and younger patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. No two knees are the same, so the question one needs to ask themselves is how can an off the shelf knee replacement be suitable for everyone?
Knee consultants have different opinions about knee replacement surgery. Some believe that computer guided knee replacements are the best approach with faster recovery rates, whilst others believe that the conventional method is just as good with more evidence supporting it.
We met with the consultants at London Sports Orthopaedics who recommend custom made knee replacements. The team here believe that it is better to make an implant that fits the patient’s knee, rather than have to remove additional bone to make the knee match an off-the-shelf implant. This innovative technique which supports bone preservation gives excellent functional outcomes.
Customised uni-compartmental knee replacements are also available and developed by a company called ConforMIS. If you have damage to one side of the knee joint, there is no need to replace the whole knee and lose healthy bone tissue. This is ideal for individuals who have pain from earlier stages of arthritis.