Hip replacement

VERILAST™ Technology for Hips: no ceramic type fracture, chipping or squeaking

The ceramicised surface of OXINIUM™ heads is not a coating, so it cannot chip or flake.The original metal surface is transformed into a ceramic through thermal processing – it is not a coating. As a result, OXINIUM material provides ceramic-like wear properties without the ceramic-like fracture risk.1,2,3

VERILAST Technology for Hips: a biocompatible solution for metal-sensitive patients

Some patients are more sensitive to metal implants. Nickel allergy has been demonstrated in up to 20% of patients with well-functioning implants and up to 55% of patients with poorly functioning implants.6

VERILAST Technology for Hips: lower risk of osteolysis

Smith & Nephew XLPE acetabular liners utilize a unique formula to produce less wear particles than other cross-linked polyethylenes.12,13,14 When combined with OXINIUM heads, VERILAST Technology for Hips produces less wear debris than XLPE with standard CoCr heads.

The ceramicised surface of OXINIUM™ heads is integral with the metal alloy which allows OXINIUM heads to provide ceramic wear performance without the risk of fracture.2,4,5

Whether it is fracture, chipping or squeaking that you are concerned about, VERILAST™ Technology for Hips address all of these concerns.

OXINIUM material has no detectable nickel content. Compared to the traditional metal used in hip implants, the Zirconium and Niobium contained in OXINIUM material are more biocompatible. This makes VERILAST Technology for Hips an appropriate choice for patients with metal sensitivities.7,8,9,10,11

Whether it’s metal sensitivity or metal ions you are concerned about, VERILAST Technology for Hips on XLPE liners address both of these issues.

Simulator results utilizing the active high demand patient profile demonstrate that VERILAST Technology for Hips outperforms CoCr heads on XLPE. OXINIUM heads minimize the material-related risks associated with other advanced bearings, while meeting the requirements of active patients.

Whether it is the demands of active patients or prosthesis longevity that you are concerned about, VERILAST Technology for Hips is a great choice.16

Choose VERILAST™ Technology

As an orthopaedic surgeon, you have a variety of options when choosing a hip implant best suited to your patients. However, you also deal with an unfortunate list of tradeoffs with most bearing couples. Then there’s VERILAST Technology for Hips. The coupling of OXINIUM™ material on XLPE is the only technology that eliminates the concerns faced with other bearing combinations.

• No risk of ceramic type fracture, chipping or squeaking
• Biocompatible solution for metal sensitive patients
• Less polyethylene wear debris compared to standard cobalt chrome heads

In addition, OXINIUM™ heads and XLPE liners are available in a wide variety of head sizes and neck offsets, which allow you the intraoperative flexibility to help restore a full range of motion.

Advanced Treatment Options for Hip Arthritis

What is Osteoarthritis or OA?

• The most common form of arthritis and often called the “wear and tear” arthritis.
• Joint lining becomes pitted, eroded, uneven…and painful.
• Bone spurs, or osteophytes, often form around the joint.
• The common activities of daily living become limited by extreme pain.
• Most of the people who have osteoarthritis are older than age 45, and women are more commonly affected than men.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

• The main symptom of osteoarthritis is PAIN.
• You may feel pain during movement and even at rest.
• Your joints may also be stiff and swollen, and you may even experience a loss of range of movement in the joint.
• The symptoms of osteoarthritis may interfere with your normal activities, such as walking and dressing, and they may also disrupt your sleep.

Osteoarthritis Causes

• Excessive wear on the joints
• Joint injuries from sports and other high-impact activity
• Age, although osteoarthritis does not occur in all people as they age
• Obesity, especially with osteoarthritis of the knees
• A small deformity of the bones in a joint
• Work-related activities or accidents

Non-surgical alternatives

• Lifestyle modification
• Weight Control
• Exercise and physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Steroid Injection

Exercise & Weight Control

• Research shows that exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis.
• Exercise decreases pain, improves flexibility and helps maintain weight.
• A healthy diet can facilitate weight loss resulting in reduced stress on weight-bearing joints and limiting further injury.

Medication

• Heat and Cold are non-drug ways that may relieve pain. warm bath/hot packs or cold packs
• Medicines commonly used in treating OA include: acetaminophen
  NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
  topical pain-relieving creams and sprays
  narcotic painkillers
  corticosteroids
  hyaluronic acid
• Many medicines used to treat OA have side effects, so it is important for patients to learn about the medicines they take.

Surgery - Total Hip Replacement

• With your total hip replacement surgery, the damaged parts of your joint that need repair will be removed and replaced with metal and plastic implants.
• During surgery, an implant, especially selected to match your needs, will be affixed to the underlying bones.
• The uppermost portion of the femur (the ball) is removed. The end of the femur is reshaped to allow the metal “hip stem” component to fit onto it.
• The acetabulum, or socket, is prepared and replaced by a metal cup. A smooth plastic liner is inserted into the cup.
• A metal hip stem is inserted into the femoral canal.
• Bone cement may be used to fix the implant in place, although some stems are designed to allow natural bone to grow into a textured surface in order to achieve fixation.
• A femoral ball is placed on top of the hip stem.
• This ball makes contact with the plastic liner to replicate your original ball and socket hip joint.
• The ball may be made from cobalt chrome, ceramic or oxidized zirconium.

How long will an implant last?

• On average, a conventional hip replacement should last 10-15 years
• The longevity of an implant depends on many factors:
  Correct surgical alignment
  Infection
  Patient activity level
• One of the primary causes of hip revision is “plastic wear”
  As the surfaces of the implant rub together, scratches in the metal can cause tiny fragments of plastic to wear off ultimately resulting in the plastic insert to fail

Why is Plastic Wear a Concern?

• Shortens the longevity of an implant
• Can lead to Osteolysis.
  “Softening of the bone”
  Occurs when tiny particles of plastic accumulate in the joint
  Osteolysis can lead to:
  Aseptic loosening of the implant
  Instability
  Revision

The ideal hip implant

• Should reduce wear
• Should not be brittle
• Should be biocompatible to address the needs of metal sensitive patients

Verilast Technology for Hip Implants

• Highly cross-linked polyethylene insert has a tighter “friction-reducing” weave
• Verilast Technology improves the wear performance of the implant.
• Implant wear is a leading late-term cause of implant failure.
• May be appropriate for patients with metal allergy as well as younger, active patients

Total Replacement

• Shortly after surgery
• The patient is sent to recovery
• Physical therapy begins day 1 post-op
• Discharge from the hospital in 3-5 days
• Follow-up with the surgeon at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month intervals.

After surgery

• You will undergo a rehabilitation protocol designed to strengthen muscles and maximize flexion; This is vital to your success!
• After physical therapy: Low-impact activities as your bones and muscles adjust to the new stresses (swimming, walking, bicycling)
• You may feel years younger than expected—the excruciating bone-on-bone pain is gone!