Ceramic Knee
Baby boomers are determined to fend off the ravages of age. CBS 2’s Paul Moniz reports on the latest attempt to lessen the impact of knee injuries.
"Everyone is a weekend warrior. People are playing sports, working out, jogging, skiing," says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Laskin. "All of these lead to an increase in knee injuries."
Laskin says the latest version of a ceramic knee implant could level the playing field. The curious-looking device is allowing younger patients like Thomas Mina to get relief.
Mina's knees began giving out in his mid-40s after taking a pounding from daily jogs.
"It was ridiculous. I had to get something done," says Mina.
The 58-year-old Mina has what's known as osteoarthritis. It used to strike people primarily in their 60s or 70s, but active baby boomers are getting hit in their 40s and 50s.
In fact, of the 209,000 people who undergo total knee replacements each year, more than one-quarter are now under 64 years of age.
That's a potential problem because traditional knee implants last only 15 years, making a second implant necessary when patients are older and more fragile.
"Each time you take it out, you lose a little more bone, a little more cement, so the operation becomes a bigger operation with more scarring, and the results are not that predictable," says Laskin.
That's why Mina turned to the new FDA-approved, scatch-resistant ceramic implant, which is expected to last 20-25 years.
The ceramic implant is covered with a substance called oxidized zirconium, which wears at a much slower rate than the surface of current implants. Its metallic alloy base is designed for strength and wear resistance.
It's now been 8 months since Mina had his left knee done and he's feeling less pain.
"Every day is a little better," he says.
Next winter, Mina will have his right side done.
"Hopefully, by the summer of 2002, I'll have two good knees," he says, and laughs.
For more information: www.oxidizedzirconium.com or hospital for special surgery: www.hss.edu.
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