Female patients undergoing
knee surgery in the UK will now be able to benefit from a new knee implant which has been designed specifically to suit women.
The new knee cap, called Gender Solutions, could help to reduce the pain experienced by some women after surgery which, according to surgeons, is probably a result of ill-fitting knee replacements.
Women have narrower thigh bones (femurs) than men, so the new implant has been designed to accommodate this physical difference.
Knee surgeon Nick London told the BBC: "Knee replacements have become a phenomenal success, but surgeons have noticed in the last few years that men and women are behaving differently after the operations.
"For a lot of women, the replacement doesn't quite match the end of the femur, and in the last few years that has made a difference to their pain."
Knee replacement surgery is often performed on patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, which causes the knee joint to be worn down.
The damaged knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint, improving function and mobility and providing relief from pain.
Treatment news : 23/05/2007
