BACKGROUND: The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that knee pain is becoming more common for younger, active patients. It's estimated that 19 million Americans seek medical attention for knee pain. Of those 19 million, about 300,000 undergo knee replacement surgery to ease the pain. This makes it more important that ever to provide the best fitting knee replacements possible. A good fit means taking into consideration a patient's stature. A horse jockey and a linebacker should not be receiving the same artificial joint. New customized knee replacements enable patients of all sizes to reclaim their optimal quality of life.

SURGERY: Painful osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, in the knee is the most common reason for total knee replacement. As the cartilage surface on the ends of the bones is worn away, the normal mechanics of the knee joint are altered. The knee becomes inflamed and irritated, and the damaged cartilage, inflamed tissues and exposed bone can cause pain. The actual replacement joint is usually made of plastic and metal, and lasts for about 10 to 15 years.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH: The FDA has just cleared a new type of knee replacement called the ADVANCE STATURE™. It provides the same features as a traditional knee replacement as well as providing sizing options. These sizing options are crucial for patients with a smaller bone structure who require a narrower implant. The ADVANCE STATURE™ is designed especially for patients with narrow femurs. Front-to-back dimensions as well as side-to-side dimensions of the knee are taken into consideration. The differentiation is not done by gender. Although women typically have smaller statures and require more narrow implants, it's very common for a traditional knee implant to fit a man badly as well.

The ADVANCE STATURE™ knee is compatible with the ADVANCE® Double-High and Medial-Pivot tibial inserts. This tibial inserts are unique in the sense that they allow more natural knee motion because of the ball and socket mechanism they utilize. The inserts replicate the freedom of movement allowed by a natural knee. The ball and socket design also provides maximum stability, giving patients more confidence in their knee replacement.

Kent M. Samuelson, M.D. of The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah was quoted saying, "In my practice I see people of all shapes and sizes needing knee replacement. A gender-specific replacement approach does not take into consideration the impact of the patient's size (height and weight). With the availability of the ADVANCE STATURE™ knee in my practice, I am better able to treat male and female patients who have a narrow femur, offering them the best possible fit for their new knee."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.

(800) 238-7117

http://www.wmt.com