The Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee: Three Distinct Differences

The first knee replacement shaped to fit a woman's anatomy

A woman’s knee

Now that you know what is inside your knees, it is important to understand how that makes them different from a man’s knees. A woman’s knee is different because:

  1. The bone in the front of a woman’s knee is typically less prominent than in a man’s knee(1).
  2. The angle between the pelvis and the knee affects how the kneecap moves over the end of the thighbone as the knee goes through a range of motion; women tend to have a wider angle than men because of the unique shape of the female anatomy(1).
  3. The end of a woman’s thighbone typically has a narrower width and a different contour than a man’s thighbone(1).

Location of the knee joint in the male and female bodies

  • Location of the knee joint in the male and female bodies

A man?s knee joint

A man’s knee joint

A woman?s knee joint

A woman’s knee joint

When you consider that women tend to be affected more by knee pain and disability than men, these anatomical differences become even more critical in the decision to have treatment. Find out how these differences helped inspire a new treatment for knee pain.

A unique shape and size

The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee has a unique shape and 3 distinct differences from all other knee implants:

  • a more oblique femoral groove;
  • a thinner anterior profile;
  • a narrower contour.

The three unique design elements aim at decreasing the risk of clinical problems – as discomfort and pain at the front of the knee – which female patients – depending on the patients conditions – may experience more often than male patients after surgery.

How is a knee implant specific for women designed?

A more oblique femoral groove

A more oblique femoral groove

A more oblique femoral groove female

When you bend your knee the kneecap glides on the femur following a groove. As women tend to have wider hips than men, their femoral groove is more oblique(1). The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee has a more oblique femoral groove than standard knee implants. After surgery the kneecap glides smoothly on the surface of the femoral component and this helps to reduce the risk of patellar problems which may be more frequently observed in women depending on the patients condition.

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A thinner anterior profile

A thinner anterior profile male

A thinner anterior profile female

The bone in the front of a woman’s knee has typically a thinner profile than that of a man’s knee(1). The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee implant has a thinner anterior profile to replicate this anatomical difference. This helps to reduce the risk of getting an uncomfortable feeling of «overstuffed» knee after surgery, which is again more frequently observed in women depending on the patient’s condition.

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A narrower contour

A narrower contour male

A narrower contour female

The extremity of a woman’s thighbone is generally narrower than the extremity of a man’s thighbone of the same size(1). When using a standard knee implant for a woman, the surgeon sometimes needs to use a smaller size. This can imply removing more bone than necessary. To reduce this risk, the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee has a narrower contour which matches the anatomy of a woman’s knee more closely.

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Benefits of the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee

Benefits of the ZimmerŪ Gender Solutions? Knee You love going for walks, swimming, playing with your grandchildren, and getting cozy with nature working in your garden. But the pain in your knee is just getting unbearable. You simply cannot do the things you love anymore.

Sound familiar? Well, then it is time to talk to a doctor about your different treatment options today. The Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee is designed to provide a better fit, safer flexion, and more natural movement because it is shaped to fit a woman's knee. It can help you get back to being you.

 (1) Mahfouz MR, Merkl BC, Fatah EE, Booth R Jr, Argenson JN Automatic methods for characterization of sexual dimorphism of adult femora: distal femur. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2007 Sep

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Alternatively if you would like a brochure or written information on Gender, please call the Gender Knee Helpline on 01793 58 4545, and leave a clear message about what you would like and how to send it to you.