The Gender specific knee replacement is meant to improve overall function after a knee replacement in Indian women. In India, women constitute 60 percent of patients undergoing a total knee replacement. Until now Indian surgeons used knee implants that were designed on the average measurements of knee sizes of men & women. The Gender specific or Woman special knee is the only knee implant specifically designed for women.
It is based upon findings presented at the meeting of biomedical and biomechanical engineers in the US. It was first introduced in the US in 2006. It was launched in India in April 2007 and most women preferring a high flexion knee replacement opt for the Gender specific knee. Patients have reported rapid relief from pain and earlier return of function in comparison to non gender knees. They needed hospital shorter hospital stay.
Anatomic differences between the two sexes have been acknowledged for long but only recently applied to design of orthopedic implants. The Gender specific knee is based on the anatomical facts that the thigh bone or femur in Indian women is narrower from side to side, the knee cap rides on a more oblique line and the lower end of the front of the thigh bone is less prominent.
The surgical technique is not significantly different.
The new knee prosthesis can be implanted through the highly successful technique of minimally invasive or less invasive surgery in which the incision is only 4- 5 inches long. This woman knee prosthesis also allows high flexion. Post operative pain is significantly reduced and hence patients can be discharged from hospital within a week.
Women who have undergone this gender knee replacement in India are very satisfied with the result at two years of follow up.
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