Dr. Pradeep Sharma

Director & Head
BLK Centre for Orthopaedics,
Joint Reconstruction & Spine
Surgery
BLK Super Speciality
Hospital, New Delhi

THE CASE

The longevity of joint replacement implants has always been a topic of debate for years. The implants are subjected to a high degree of loads and wear inducing movements that result in the release of abrasive particles. Newer designs and materials which have gone through the stringent R&D process, are now being introduced to tackle this attrition problem. One latest invention in the field of implants is the Gold Knee, a fully Biocompatible Titanium Niobium Nitride (TiNbN) ceramic surface coating on the metallic implant which gives it a light golden yellow appearance. This implant has been FDA approved and has been in use in the United States of America since 2011.

The ceramic coating technique utilises a particular technology known as the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) which makes the TiNbN coated implants ace over other materials. During the manufacturing process, vapour form of the coating material, with the addition of nitrogen, is securely anchored in several layers of the implant surface in a high vacuum chamber. The implants manufactured through this process have many potential benefits over other materials, such as cobalt or chromium-based alloys. TiNbN coated implant is twice as hard as oxinium and over eight times harder than a conventional cobalt chrome. Surface hardness attributes to the abrasion resistance and stiffness of the implant. The allergenic potential is also less in TiNbN coatings as compared to cobalt, chrome and nickel ions. It also has an improved wettability (greater hydrophilicity) for body fluids, which means better lubrication, and thus reduces wear rates.

To summarise, Gold Knees are far beneficial than the conventional implants in terms of outstanding biocompatibility, allergy prevention, superior surface hardness, low friction articulation, long-term chemical stability, inflammation prevention, endoprosthetic loosening and extreme adhesive strength.

Patients with severe degenerative changes in the knee with an active lifestyle are the ideal patients for Gold Knee Replacement.

Till date, BLK has successfully performed over 50 Gold Knee Replacements at the BLK Centre for Orthopaedics, Joint Reconstruction & Spine Surgery. The functional outcomes of these patients have been assessed on their subsequent visits, and the results have been excellent so far with the patients experiencing utmost satisfaction.