 | If your doctor has told you that you need total knee replacement surgery, you should know that there are two kinds of knee replacement implants available. One is called fixed bearing and the other, rotating platform. The right design for you depends on your age, health status and the condition of your knee. The p.f.c.® SigmaTM RP Knee offers both fixed and mobile bearing options. |
| Rotating platform knee implants move almost like a normal knee joint. They allow the knee to twist and turn (called rotation), as well as move back and forth, flexing and extending (called articulation). |
| What is the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System? |
Each p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System has four main parts:- The tibial component replaces the top of the shinbone (tibia). In a rotating platform knee, this tibial component is a metal tray that covers the end of the tibia.
- The tibial insert fits into the tibial component and lies at the point where the tibia and femur (thigh bone) meet. This insert is disk-shaped and made of a very strong plastic called polyethylene. It sits on a highly polished surface and rotates around a conical post.
- The femoral component replaces the two femoral condyles, the bony ridges at the end of the femur, and the groove in the femur where the patella runs.
- The patellar component replaces the bone surface on the top of the patella (kneecap) that runs in a groove along the bottom of the thighbone.
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| Why Choose the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System? |
- Action that more closely imitates your natural knee. What sets the p.f.c. Sigma RP knee apart is the polyethylene insert, bearing surface that allows the tibial and femoral parts of the knee to move smoothly. The polyethylene insert between the femur and tibia will rotate as the knee moves, creating a more natural, joint-like motion.
The RP in p.f.c. Sigma RP stands for "rotating platform." This rotation spreads the contact more evenly between the two parts, reducing the stress of everyday activities on the implant. The rotation of the bearing insert in the tibial component also takes pressure off the areas where the bone and the implant come together, potentially reducing the risk that the implant will loosen over time.1
When the knee implant bends and rotates during activity, the polyethylene can wear. Studies have found that in many cases, tiny particles of polyethylene are grated off. This "debris" within the implant may cause the implant to fail. The p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System is designed to reduce the stresses in the knee that can lead to polyethylene wear. This may increase the longevity of the implant.
- A knee replacement tailored to your anatomy. Because the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System incorporates both fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing technology, your surgeon can decide which bearing inserts, fixed or mobile, are best for you using the same knee replacement system.
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| What are the Results with the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System? |
| The majority of total knee replacements have been fixed-bearing knees, not rotating platform knees like the p.f.c. Sigma RP, and have more clinical data to support them. The p.f.c. Sigma RP, however, incorporates components that have been used for over 20 years in the United States. One study of rotating platform knees has shown excellent long-term results, with over 95 percent of implants still functioning 15 years after surgery. |
| Who is a Candidate for Knee Replacement with the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System? |
| Because rotating platform knee implants are designed with the goal of longer performance with less wear, surgeons may recommend them for certain types of patients. Prime candidates for the rotating platform prostheses are typically younger than 65 years old, more active, or weigh no more than 25% more than their ideal body weight. Only a qualified orthopaedic surgeon trained in total knee replacement can provide advice about whether the p.f.c. Sigma RP Knee System is right for you. See your MBO Specialist to learn more. |
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