Which are The Best Knees?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Dixie

new member
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
17
Location
United States
Hi! I'm 52 and scheduled for my right TKR on Nov 13. Everywhere I go I hear that the zimmer Gender Knee is the best. My Doctor does not do that one..I THINK he does Stryker Triathalon, but I'll find out tomorrow. He did surgery on my same knee last year after it became infected from a cortisone shot given by a different doctor. It was a nightmare and I was very sick...surgery to clean out the infection, systemic staph infection, blood clot, hospital for 9 days, IV antibiotics at home for 6 weeks, and so on. It was awful. I am bone on bone now in both knees, but the right is worse so I decided to do that one first.

My point is, I REALLY trust my doctor. He knows my history, experienced it with me, and I feel that he will give me better and more customized care than a new doctor who does the Zimmer or any other design. I mean, how much does it really matter which design they use? Isn't your relationship with your Doctor equally important? (BTW, he's a well respected physician in Atlanta, and has the pedigree, if you will!)

Please! If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be interested in what you have to say. Thanks!
 
Well, Dixie, I have been on record before on this forum about the requirement in the States for patients to choose their own prostheses so I won't go down that road again. If you want to read my comments, a search through my "View all posts" in my profile (a click on my name will get you there).

Suffice it to say that in the UK, the patient's doctor chooses the surgeon and the surgeon chooses the prosthesis! Mostly this is done because a) the doctor knows and trusts the surgeon and b) the surgeon has used this particular prosthesis for some years - updating as and when the need arose - and has a good track record as far as complications go.

Therefore I would say you are right on the button as far as trusting your doctor or any other one is concerned. Basically, you only want to know these things from him;



  • [*]would he recommend this prosthesis for you?
    [*]how long has he been using this prosthesis?
    [*]which other prostheses does he use and why?
    [*]what is his incidence of failure? (all types of failure*, not just breakages or loosening)
    [*]what is his incidence of infection?

These question are quite in order for you to ask and the answers to them will tell you a lot about him. If he waffles or prevaricates over one or more, he (might) have something to hide. Any surgeon worth his salt will talk openly and frankly about them and will not be offended. After all, which is more important - his dignity or the good outcome of your operation?




*"failures" include
  • excessive post op pain in use
  • excessive post op pain at rest
  • excessive and protracted swelling
  • thrombosis (blood clot) in the leg
  • poor joint function
  • restricted flexion or extension
  • difficulty weight bearing
  • difficulty getting up from sitting
  • locking
  • squeaking
 
Look into the Smith-Nephew Oxinium, MIS. I had it done Aug. 20 and am doing fine. It's touted for greater wear-resistance characteristics and S-M's been in the business a long time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

Members online

Back
Top Bottom