Innovative Surgery and Devices see Hip and Knee Reconstructive Surgery take Steps Forward

Thursday 20 December 2012, Amsterdam

The joint reconstruction market is standing up to meet demand, as hip and knee surgeries become less of a last resort and more of a lifestyle choice, according to a new report by healthcare experts.

The new report, "Joint Reconstruction (Hip and Knee Devices) Market to 2018 - Advanced Implant Materials, Innovative Designs and Improved Longevity lead to Rise in the Number of Early Joint Replacement Surgeries", states that conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis  are becoming increasingly common due to longer life expectancies. Technological advances are also encouraging younger individuals with joint problems to undergo reconstructive treatment sooner than later.

Surgeons are rapidly adopting innovative, minimally invasive joint reconstruction procedures, making treatment outcomes more reliable. This encourages patients to opt for early surgical intervention while they are young, allowing them to maintain active and healthy lifestyles. The emergence of new procedures such as hip resurfacing and partial knee replacements allow degenerative conditions to be addressed at various points of severity, and new implant materials can resist wear and tear, therefore promising long-term utility.

Research into the development of minimally invasive procedures will accelerate technological innovation in the joint reconstruction devices market. Anterior hip replacement surgery, Percutaneously Assisted Total Hip (PATH), and quadriceps-sparing total knee replacements all utilize minimally invasive surgical techniques. Minimally invasive hip and knee replacement procedures require smaller incisions than traditional techniques, and different entry points are used for access, minimizing blood loss and injury to muscles and tendons. Minimally invasive surgery also allows natural movement to return more quickly, cutting down on hospital stays and recovery times, and improving patient comfort.

Product innovations are enabling physicians to optimize these procedures, as modular designs allow different components of the implants to be put together during surgery. New implant materials are also improving implant longevity, as the use of different bearing surface materials has achieved low rates of wear and improved strength, allowing new implants to last for up to 25 years compared to conventional device’s lifespan of 15 years.