Frequently Asked Questions: Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ Knee

Why Zimmer developed
Main differences from traditional
Potential benefits
Eligibility
Suitability
First available
Recovery
Male patients
Phasing out
Smaller size sufficient?
Who developed?
Materials
Future developments

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General

What is the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is the first knee implant that is specifically designed to fit the shape and size of a woman’s anatomy

Why has Zimmer developed the Gender Solutions™ knee implant?

When women were undergoing knee replacement surgery, orthopaedic surgeons began to notice the distinct differences between women’s and men’s knees. They often have to make compromises during surgery in order to make a traditional knee implant fit a female knee. The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant is designed to fit the female anatomy and means that the orthopaedic surgeon no longer needs to compromise the fit of the implant for female patients

What are the main differences between the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee and the traditional knee implant that has previously been used for women?

Traditional knee implants are not designed to fit and function specifically to accommodate the different shape and size of the female knee
The Zimmer Gender Solutions implant:

Has a thinner profile for women, so the knee replacement potentially feels more natural and has a greater range of motion
Is designed for more natural movement - more like the natural knee
Has a contoured shape proportioned to fit the female anatomy. This ensures the implant does not overhang the bone and potentially press on, or damage surrounding ligaments and tendons
As there is little or no compromise to the fit of the implant, the knee has improved stability

What are the main potential benefits of fitting a woman with the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee implant?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is contoured to fit the different shape and size of female knees, which gives a better fit and more natural movement because it is proportioned to the female anatomy

Who is eligible for the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee implant?

For women with severe pain or advanced joint disease, a knee replacement is highly successful for relieving pain and restoring joint function. The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is available to women of all age groups. However, as with any surgical procedure, including traditional knee implants, the orthopaedic surgeon will ultimately decide the best course of action for each patient.

Knee replacement is considered when:

Joint damage is visible on x-ray
Episodes of pain, swelling, and stiffness in the knee are prevalent
Persistent pain and disability interfere with daily life activities
Pain is not relieved by non-surgical alternatives
Mobility and/or stability are extremely compromised

Will the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee be suitable for all women that require a knee replacement?

Ultimately the surgeons will decide if the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is the best implant option for a female undergoing a knee replacement. However, since this implant is specifically designed for women and there are five different sizes available for both the left and right knees, it is likely that this implant will be the best option for women

How long has the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee been available in the UK?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant has been available in the UK since September 2006. It has been available in the USA since March 2006.

Does the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee allow a quicker recovery process for the patient?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is contoured to fit the shape and size of female knees to give a better fit and more natural movement. As a result the patient may be back to normal activity sooner

When the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant is used in conjunction with a Zimmer® Minimally Invasive Solutions™ (MIS) knee replacement procedure, patients will have a smaller scar, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery time

Could the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee be used on a male patient?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant is designed specifically for the female anatomy. However, if a male patient presents with a knee anatomy that best fits the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee, the surgeon may decide to use this implant instead

Will the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee implant gradually take over from the traditional knee implant in the majority of women until the latter is no longer used?

Yes. Traditional knee replacements do not feel or move like a woman’s natural knee. The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee has been created so that surgeons can more closely fit the implant to the patient, rather than fitting the patient to the implant

Wouldn’t a smaller-sized implant be sufficient?

Replacement knees have been available in many sizes for a long time, but size alone is not the only difference between women’s and men’s knees. A replacement knee made to optimally fit women must accommodate the significant differences in shape as well as size. The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant is designed to do just that

Surgeon Training

1. Do surgeons need specific / additional training to fit the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee implant?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is implanted using existing surgical techniques, including Zimmer’s Minimally Invasive Solutions procedure, which typically offers smaller scars, shorter hospitalisation and quicker recovery. Orthopaedic surgeons will require training by the Zimmer Institute if they want to fit the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee via Zimmer’s Minimally Invasive Solutionsprocedure

2. How many surgeons in the UK are currently using this implant?

Go here for Hospitals and Surgeons.

The Operation

1. How long does the operation take?

This varies and depends on the surgeon performing the procedure

2. Is it more complicated to fit the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee implant than a traditional knee implant?

The Zimmer Gender Solutionsknee should be easier for surgeons to fit since it is designed specifically for the female knee and will not require adjustments to the bone or ligaments

3. Does the patient require the same aftercare following the Zimmer® Gender Solutions™ knee replacement?

Yes. As with any surgical procedure, the orthopaedic surgeon is the best placed to estimate how long it will take for the patient to recover. Typically, patients spend 3-6 days in hospital

4. Does the patient require any post-operative consultations?

It depends on the hospital practice and the surgeon who will advise the patient on the post- operative consultations that they require

5. Will the knee ever need to be replaced?

98% of patients have their original knee implant for nine years (Data on file). The Zimmer NexGen knee implant (the model for the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee implant) currently has the best results for longevity and records the lowest rate of revisions when compared to all implants (source: Swedish & Australian register). The need for revisions is usually as a result of pain, instability of the components or wear and tear of the implant. Since the Zimmer Gender Solutions knee is designed specifically to fit women it should reduce the incidence of pain and instability, which may further increase the time required to revision.

Who developed the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee System?

The implant is based on a three-dimensional bone atlas that was compiled by Dr. Mohamed Mahfouz of the University of Tenessee (USA) for Zimmer using computed tomography. The atlas reveals the statistically significant differences between the knees of men and women. Subsequently, a research team of 13 renowned orthopedists used the particularities of the female knee and worked to develop the new Zimmer Gender Solutions Implants.

What material is the Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee implant made of?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions High Flex femur component is made of a body-compatible cobalt-chrome cast alloy.

Will there be more Zimmer Gender Solutions Implants from Zimmer?

The Zimmer Gender Solutions Knee is only the first of several gender-specific implants made by Zimmer. Additional developments will follow in the near future.

Quick links

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.