In knee endoprosthetics, AAP Implantate AG has an internationally tried and trusted knee implant with outstanding long-term results. Our aim will continue to be, especially against the backdrop of growing cost pressure in the health sector, to provide operators with reliable, inexpensive knee implants.
MEBIO KNEE
The MEBIO Knee is a modular prosthetic system for axis-free total surface replacement. It is now by far the most frequently used form of knee joint replacement. The system comprises a femur component (Co-Cr-Mo), a tibia component (Co-Cr-Mo with a UHMWPE polyethylene plateau and a UHMWPE patella component for optional use. The components are all available in various sizes and strengths.
Two pegs and a textured back anchor the femur component securely in the cement. The joint surface permits limited rotation around its axis and allows it to slide backwards in flexion. The tibia component has a central shaft and a textured back. The shaft base is ventrally widened. This gives better rotation stability after the implant. The patella is a dome-shaped component with a central anchoring peg.
The outstanding quality of this prosthesis system is confirmed by the data in the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register, which has existed since 1975 and which by 1997 held records on more than 50,000 primary knee endoprostheses. During a 9-year period, the Scan Knee, which is marketed in Germany as the MEBIO Knee, showed extremely low cumulative revision rates (in %). (Robertsson O, Knutson K, Lewold S, Lidgren L.
BONE CEMENTS
Thanks to its special properties, bone cement fulfils two important functions within the framework of its particular application. It serves as a filler between prosthesis components and bone to anchor the endoprosthetic parts firmly and securely to the bone. As such, it acts as a medium that takes on the job of transferring and distributing forces. Thanks to its ability to intermesh with and penetrate the porous bone surface, especially in spongy areas, it enlarges the area of contact between cement and bone considerably. This results in a decisive increase in its load-bearing capacity.
Bone cement fulfils a second function as a tried and tested vehicle for pharmaceutical agents. When charged with appropriate antibiotics, it has proven particularly effective in preventing bacterial infections in connection with artificial joint replacements.
AMINOGLYCOSIDE ANTIBIOTIC; AND STANDARD VISCOSITY, X-RAY POSITIVE, FAST-SETTING BONE CEMENT: PALACOS® R
Palacos® R is a standard viscosity, X-ray positive, fast-setting bone cement that can be supplied with or without the aminoglycoside antibiotic, Gentamicin. Palacos® has a shorter mixing time than other cements, followed by an extended working duration. The use of Palacos® R cements marketed by AAP Implantate AG has been scientifically recorded for more than 15 years in the Swedish National Hip Arthroplasty Register data now covering 169,419 primary implantations.
Palacos® Low Viscosity (LV) does not generally require pre-cooling when mixed with vacuum mixing systems. Palacos® Low Viscosity (LV) is only available in a 40g pack and, in contrast to Palacos® R, with 1 g (instead of 0.5 g) Gentamicin.
EASYMIX® VACUUM CEMENTING SYSTEM
The authors make express reference to the connection between a reduction in revision risk and the type of cement used. Palacos® R with and without Gentamicin showed the best results and the lowest risk quotients. Combining Palacos® R bone cements with Gentamicin or Palacos® R and the EASYMIX® vacuum cementing system that we market makes it possible to vacuum mix a bone cement of standard viscosity without pre-cooling provided that the mixing system is used properly and that the room temperature is below 22º C.
In these conditions, even without pre-cooling the cement it can be proven that vacuum mixing produces neither inhomogeneity in the cement matrix nor increased porosity (larger volume of trapped air). However, this only applies if the cements are used in conjunction with our EASYMIX® vacuum mixing system.
