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A common issue with hip replacements
is what surgeons refer to as "wear." Any time two moving parts rub
against each other repeatedly, friction occurs and tiny
scratches can result, causing tiny fragments of material to come
off over time. This effect, similar to the action of a
fingernail file, is a main reason a joint may "fail" and an
individual will undergo repeat surgery.
The Oxinium material has proven to be a
superior metal for use in the production of hip
implants due to its hardness, smoothness and resistance to
scratching and abrasion. This superior strength results in less wear
than cobalt chrome and more toughness than ceramic.
Several key technical facts you will be
interested in:
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The Oxinium material incorporates the best features of
ceramic and cobalt chrome without the risks associated with
either.
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The Oxinium material is the result of a process that
allows oxygen to absorb into zirconium metal, which changes
only its surface from a metal to ceramic.
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The ceramic surface reduces friction between the implant
device and the plastic component or cartilage, meaning less
potential for wear and a device that should last longer.
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The Oxinium material is harder than commonly used cobalt
chrome, and with only the surface changing during the
manufacturing process, the rest of the implant remains metal
to maintain its overall strength.
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The Oxinium material is 4900 times more resistant to
scratching than cobalt chrome for superior durability over
time.
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The Oxinium material contains no detectable nickel, the
leading cause of negative reactions in patients with metal
allergies.
For you, this means…
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You can now discuss replacement surgery with your
orthopaedic surgeon well before the age of 65 because of an
Oxinium device’s anticipated longevity.
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If you have been a physically active person, you can
have the utmost confidence in Oxinium implants since the
Oxinium material demonstrates such low wear rates.
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If you are allergic to metals, you can feel safe about
an Oxinium implant because it is one of the most
biocompatible metals known to man.
Link to Original FAQ Questions from the Smith & Nephew
Website
http://www.hipreplacementinfo.com/hip/faqs.cfm#FAQ1
Frequently Asked Questions about Oxinium THR Devices
What is OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium and should
I ask my surgeon about it?
OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium is nothing short of
revolutionary. This new material is used to produce components of hip implants
and is vastly superior to commonly used cobalt chrome surfaces. Due to its
superior hardness, smoothness and resistance to scratching and abrasion, it
actually incorporates the best features of all available material options (both
ceramic and cobalt chrome) with fewer material related risks. All of which makes
for a potentially longer-lasting, superior performance.
How do scratching and friction affect a hip
implant?
Traditionally, cobalt chrome has been the
material of choice for hip implants because of its strength and relative
hardness. However, studies have shown that cobalt chrome implants have a
tendency to roughen over time when implanted in the body. Thus, when a roughened
joint replacement rubs against a plastic bearing surface, the plastic wears out.
In fact, laboratory studies show that even a single scratch on a cobalt chrome
surface can increase the rate of plastic wear 10 times. Over time, the plastic
surface simply wears out and additional surgery is then needed to replace the
worn implants. Studies conducted recently have proven through controlled wear
testing that a scratched or roughened cobalt chrome implant will dramatically
increase production of plastic wear debris and reduce the life span of the hip
implant.
How long will an OXINIUM hip replacement last?
According to laboratory wear testing, OXINIUM
implants demonstrate the scratch and wear resistance necessary to be potentially
longer lasting as compared to traditional artificial hip joints. The smooth,
hard surface of an OXINIUM implant is not a coating, but the result of a process
which allows oxygen to absorb into zirconium metal, which changes only the
surface from metal to ceramic. The ceramic surface makes OXINIUM implants 4,900
times more abrasion resistant than cobalt chrome. It also reduces friction
between the implant and the plastic surface for superior durability over time.
I am in pain, but my orthopaedic surgeon has
advised me to wait for my hip replacement because I am too young. Why will an
OXINIUM hip replacement be different?
Oftentimes in the past, orthopaedic surgeons
have advised patients under 65 years of age to wait to have hip replacement
surgery for one reason; the life span of traditional cobalt chrome implants is
limited. With the new potentially longer-lasting OXINIUM hip implant, surgeons
have a viable option for a younger patient who may not have been a hip
replacement candidate in the past. Therefore, a younger patient with advanced
arthritis no longer has to suffer for years until he or she reaches an
appropriate age for joint replacement surgery.
In addition, patients who want to return to an
active lifestyle which can include low-impact activities like dancing, gardening
and stationary cycling, may also benefit from OXINIUM hip replacements due to
the fact that they are better able to tolerate activity and may last longer than
traditional joint replacements.
Are people who are nickel sensitive candidates
for OXINIUM hip implants?
There is no detectable nickel in the OXINIUM
material, the leading cause of negative reactions in patients with metal
allergies. The OXINIUM material is one of the most biocompatible metals known to
man and most immune systems are able to tolerate the new implant. Furthermore,
OXINIUM is the only orthopaedic metal that does not contain nickel. Patients who
have needed hip replacement surgery but could not tolerate the nickel content of
traditional implants may now have the surgery they need with less fear of an
allergic reaction.
What is the OXINIUM material and how is it
made?
First, the zirconium alloy metal is shaped into
an implant component. Secondly, the implant is put through a patented process
which allows oxygen to absorb into the zirconium metal. Then, once the surface
of the metal is saturated with oxygen, it changes from metal to ceramic. This
ceramic surface gives the OXINIUM material significant advantages over cobalt
chrome. And because only the surface is changed, the rest of the component is
still metal and retains its overall strength.
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