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GENERAL What is the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee? The Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee is the first knee implant that is
specifically designed to fit the shape and size of a woman's
anatomy.
Why have Zimmer® developed the Gender Solutions™
knee implant? When women were undergoing knee
replacement surgery, orthopaedic surgeons began to notice the
distinct differences between women's and men's knees. They
often have to make compromises during the surgery in order to
make the traditional knee implant fit the female anatomy and
means that the orthopaedic surgeon no longer needs to compromise
the fit of the implant for female patients.
What are the main differences between the the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee and the traditional knee implant that has
previously been used by women?
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Has a thinner profile for women so the knee
replacement potentially feels more natural and has a greater
range of motion
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Is designed for more natural movement - more like
the natural knee
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Has a contoured shape proportioned to fit the
female anatomy. This reduces the risk of the implant
overhanging the bone and potentially pressing on, or damaging
surrounding ligaments
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As there is little or no compromise to the fit of
the implant, the knee has improved stability
What are the potential benefits of fitting a
woman with the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
implant? The Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee is contoured to fit the different shape and size
of female knees, which gives a better fit and more natural
movement because it is proportioned to the female anatomy.
Who is eligible for the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™
Knee Implant? For women with severe pain or
advanced joint disease, a knee replacement is highly successful
for relieving pain and restoring joint function. The
Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee is available to women
of all age groups. However, as with any surgical
procedure, including traditional knee implants, the orthopaedic
surgeon will ultimately decide the best course of action for
each patient. Knee replacement is considered when:
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Joint damage is visible on x-ray
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Episodes of pain. swelling and stiffness in the
knees are prevalent
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Persistent pain and disability interfere with daily
life activities
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Pain is not relieved by non-surgical alternatives
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Mobility and / or stability are extremely
compromised
Will the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™
Knee be suitable for all women that require a knee replacement?
Ultimately the surgeons will decide if the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee is the best implant option for a female
undergoing a knee replacement. However, since this implant
is specifically designed for women and there are five different
sizes available for both the left and the right knees, it is
likely that this implant will be the best option for women.
How long has the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
been available in the UK? The Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee implant has been available in the UK
since September 2006. It has been available in the USA
since March 2006. Does the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee allow a quicker recovery process for the
patient?
- The Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee is contoured
to fit the shape and size of female knees to give better fit
and more natural movement. As a result the patient may
be back to normal activity sooner
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When the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
implant is used in conjunction with a Zimmer®
Minimally Invasive Solutions™ Knee replacement procedure,
patients will have a smaller scar, shorter hospital stay and a
quicker recovery time
Could the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™
Knee be used on a male patient? The Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee implant is designed specifically for
the female anatomy, However, if a male presents with a
knee anatomy that best fits the Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee, the surgeon may decide to use this implant
instead. Will the Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee implant gradually take over from the
traditional knee implant in women until the latter is no
longer used? Yes. Traditional knee
replacements do not feel or move like a woman's natural knee.
the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee has been created
so that surgeons can more closely fit the implant to the
patient, rather than fitting the patient to the implant.
Wouldn't a smaller size implant be sufficient?
Replacement knees have been available in many sizes for a long
time, but size alone is not the only difference between men's
and women's knees. A replacement knee made to optimally
fit women must accommodate the significant differences in
shape as well as size. The Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee implant is designed to do just that.
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AVAILABILITY Is the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee available on the NHS?
Yes, at selected centres of excellence. It is also
available privately. What is the referral
process for the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee /
how do I get the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
instead of a traditional knee implant? If a
female patient feels that she might need a knee replacement,
the first port of call is her GP, where she can discuss the
opportunity for receiving a Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee instead of a traditional knee implant.
Owing to current limitations in availability not all
orthopaedic surgeons will be able to offer the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee, but they can discuss the options. The
Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee may be requested at
the centres of excellence where the surgeons are currently
using the implant Are there any centres of
excellence using the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
in the UK? Cleveland Nuffield Hospital is one
of seven centres of excellence around the UK currently
offering the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
implant.
TOP OF PAGE SURGEON TRAINING The Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee is implanted using existing
surgical techniques, including Zimmer's Minimally Invasive
Solutions procedure, which typically offers smaller scars,
shorter hospitalisation and quicker recovery.
Orthopaedic surgeons will require training by the Zimmer
institute if they want to fit the Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee via Zimmer's Minimally Invasive Solutions
procedure. Tony Nargol is one of five surgeons in the UK
(as of May, 2007) who are using this implant.
How long will it take before all orthopaedic surgeons have
access to the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee?
Zimmer® hope that 5% of the UK's 500 orthopaedic
knee surgeons will be using the Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee implant by the end of 2007.
TOP OF PAGE WAITING TIMES
What is the average waiting time for the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee on the NHS? It depends on the
hospital involved, but on average it will take between 6-24
weeks from consultation to treatment. What is the average
waiting time for the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee
if it is done privately? It depends on the hospital
involved - approximately 2-6 weeks from consultation to
treatment. Will the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™
Knee have any effect on knee replacement waiting lists?
No - but it may decrease revision rates - the number of
secondary knee replacements carried out as a result of pain,
instability or discomfort as the implant ages. The
Zimmer® NextGen™ Knee implant (of which the
Gender Solutions™ implant is a 'descendant') has the lowest
rate of required revision.
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COSTS & FUNDING
What is the cost of the Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee implant to the NHS compared to a traditional
knee implant? There is approximately a 5%
price difference compared to traditional knee replacement
implants (as of May, 2007). Is there any
difference in overall cost to the NHS when comparing a Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee replacement to a traditional knee
replacement? There is negligible cost
difference to the hospital (approximately 1-2% difference).
Will private health insurance companies pay for this type
of operation? Yes - there is a standard tariff
for this procedure paid by insurance companies.
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OPERATION How long will the operation take?
This varies and depends on the surgeon performing the
procedure. Is it more complicated to fit the Zimmer®
Gender Solutions™ Knee than a traditional knee implant?
The Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee should be easier
to fit since it is designed specifically for the female knee
and will not require adjustments to the bone or ligaments.
Does the patient require the same aftercare following the
Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee replacement?
Yes. As with any surgical procedure, the orthopaedic
surgeon is the best placed to estimate how long it will take
for the patient to recover. Typically, patients spend
3-6 days in hospital. Does the patient require
any post-operative treatment? It depends on
the hospital practice and the surgeon who will advise the
patient on the post-operative consultations they require.
Will the knee ever need to be replaced? The Zimmer®
NextGen™ Knee (the model for The Zimmer® Gender
Solutions™ Knee implant) currently has the best results for
longevity and records the lowest rate of revisions when
compared to all implants (source: Swedish & Australian
register). The need for revisions is usually as a result
of pain, instability of the components or wear and tear of the
implant. Since The Zimmer® Gender Solutions™
Knee is designed specifically to fit women it should reduce
the incidence of pain and instability, which may further
increase the time required for revision.
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