Our Knee Replacements

The doctors at CORE Orthopedics and Sports Medicine believe that ensuring success after a knee replacement surgery begins well before a patient lays down on the operating table. Our goal is to optimize and increase the quality of life for our those who need knee replacement surgery. We work towards that goal from a patient’s first consultation by offering cutting-edge technology that can be personalized to individual bodies.

No two people are alike, so why should we expect two individual bodies to adapt to the same implant in the same way? There are tons of tiny nuances between the anatomies of different patients. Keeping these in mind while an implant is selected and placed in a body ensures a better possible outcome than the standard one-size-fits-all approach of traditional implants.

We are in a new chapter of knee implant technology, one in which implants have the potential to relieve pain better and last longer than ever before. In order to unlock the full potential of a knee implant, it’s essential to correctly align the implant in the body according to that body’s individual anatomy. Doing this ensures that the implant performs adequately and wears evenly.

That’s where the VISIONAIRE Patient-Matched Technology comes into play — to personalize your implant experience and deliver the best results possible. Using x-ray and MRI data of your leg and knee, the correct implant size is selected and VISIONAIRE cutting guides are designed to help your surgeon make the bone cuts necessary to precisely place your implant, and to deliver the best outcome possible. With this personalized approach, the implants fit more securely and can be held in place using only a few pins, instead of the large rods of traditional replacements.

Other VISIONAIRE Patient-Matched Technology benefits include a less invasive surgical procedure, reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection post-surgery, shorter recovery time, and less pain post-op.

*Safety Note: Knee replacement surgery is intended to relieve knee pain and improve knee functions. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery, such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear, and infection, that may result in the need for additional surgery. The longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. Do not perform high-impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage, or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon’s limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your knee joint against overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you

Journey II

The doctors at CORE Orthopedics and Sports Medicine strive to offer our patients innovative orthopedic solutions. We pride ourselves on our implementation of cutting-edge technology to afford our patients an overall improvement in their quality of life. One way that we do this for patients with knee problems is with the Journey II BCS knee, a high-performance knee implant.

The Journey II BCS knee is a second-generation knee replacement that combines the stability and natural motion of the human knee with new low-friction materials that may extend the life of the implant. During surgery, the knee is implanted carefully while addressing its shape relative to a patient’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons to ensure the natural feeling of the implant after the operation.

This knee implant is part of a new chapter, as it departs from the traditional knee implants, which attempt to recreate the subtle swing-and-rotate action of a healthy knee with either a rotating platform within the implant or with an angled alignment of the implant during surgery. With these traditional knee implants’ slightly unnatural shapes and motion, your muscles and ligaments work harder. They can lead to joint pain, muscle fatigue, and an unnatural feeling while walking or bending.

The JOURNEY II BCS knee is designed differently, with natural internal knee shapes and angled forces in mind to give patients the same full range of motion as a natural, healthy knee. It is built upon biomedical engineering principles that your real knee currently uses. Because of this, the Journey II BCS knee replacement doesn’t cause stress on your soft tissues after surgery since they don’t have to adjust the unnatural shapes and forces caused by traditional implants.

The JOURNEY II BCS knee also reproduces the stability provided by your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and your posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Your ACL and PCL are key to the stability of your real joint and contribute to natural motion when your knee is fully extended and fully bent. No other knee implant reproduces both functions.

Implant Components and Surfaces

Each Journey II BCS knee replacement comprises four parts: The tibial component with two elements (metal base and a plastic insert), the femoral component, and the patellar component. The tibial component replaces the top of the tibia or the shin bone. The femoral component replaces the bottom of the thigh bone or femur. And the patellar component replaces the surface of the kneecap to protect the joint.

In order to be considered successful, a knee implant will need to be able to withstand the rigors of daily activity. A major factor in its strength is the quality of the artificial surfaces that slide against each other in the new joint. In the past few decades, these surface material options have been somewhat limited, but the Journey II BCS knee utilizes a relatively new material, OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium, to ensure joint strength and durability.

Knee replacements can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking. Some patients come in for consultation appointments and worry that their potential knee implant will feel unnatural or will be unsuccessful in its ability to withstand the rigors of life. The good news is there have been some incredibly significant advancements in joint replacement materials in the last few decades to ensure a patient’s happiness and health after knee replacement surgery.

VERILAST Knee

One example of such advancement is the VERILAST Knee Technology, which helps deliver greater strength and a natural range of motion to knee implants. VERILAST Knee Technology implants are made of a special Oxinium material characterized by a hard ceramic surface that resists roughening and is proven to last longer than traditional knee implant materials. This new technology is one of few implants that address implant wear, one of the most commonly cited concerns about knee replacement surgery. 

Even with the improvements in knee replacement technology, the decision to go through with such a procedure is very personal and should be handled with care. Knee replacement surgery has been proven to be statistically safe and successful but still comes with its own set of risks. You should complete extensive and thorough research, and discuss your options with your primary care doctor and an orthopedic surgeon. Also, make sure you talk things over with your family and loved ones before making any surgical decision.

*Safety Note: Knee replacement surgery is intended to relieve knee pain and improve knee functions. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original knee. There are potential risks with knee replacement surgery, such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear, and infection, that may result in the need for additional surgery. The longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. Do not perform high-impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon’s limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your knee joint against overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.

The Procedure

The procedure will take between one and two hours and will consist of the following steps:

1. An incision extends from the thigh, past the inside edge of the kneecap, and down to the shinbone.
2. The end of the femur is shaped in preparation for sizing the femoral trial component.
3. The top of the tibia is shaped for proper sizing of the tibial trial component.
4. The trial units are put in place, and the appropriate implant size is selected.
5. The knee is assessed for alignment, stability, and range of motion.
6. The underside of the kneecap is prepared, and the patella trial is selected.
7. The trial units are removed, and the final femoral, tibial, and patella components are implanted.