CHENNAI: With more and more people in the 30-40 years age group complaining of knee pain, the demand for zirconium implants is growing, said Dr A K Venkatachalam, consultant orthopedic surgeon, Chennai Meenakshi multi-specialty hospital.
Traditionally, knee replacement surgery, an option for people aged above 50, is performed to give relief from knee pain caused due to various factors, such as rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or obesity.
“But there is a surge in the number of youngsters who complain of knee problems and insist on having a knee replacement,” he said. “On an average, three youngsters below the age of 40, consult with me daily for knee pains,” he said. But traditional knee replacement surgeries, in which metal implants are used, cannot be prescribed for youngsters as the metal inserts typically wear out after 15 years. In contrast, oxidised zirconium implants, can last up to 25 years, he added.
Superheated zirconium leads to the formation of a top layer of ceramic. As a result, the implant has the properties of both ceramic and zirconium. “These implants are smooth by several folds, causing lesser scratches on usage, and take a longer time to wear out,” he explained. They are also popular among people who have metal allergies. “Since November 2008, I have performed 25 knee replacement surgeries using these implants. Most of the beneficiaries are in the age group of 30-40 years,” he said. Zirconium implants cost `1,07,000, while the conventional metal ones cost `75,000.