A perfect fit, just for women

When it comes to bum knees, men and women are definitely not created equal.

For one thing, a woman’s knee has a narrower anatomy, and women tend to experience more knee pain and resulting disability from their injuries.

Research shows that both women and men vastly underuse knee replacement, yet two thirds of the more than 400,000 annual surgeries are performed on women.

And women are choosing knee replacement surgery at younger ages, thanks to longer implant life of replacement knees.

Zimmer, a medical device company manufactures the Gender Solutions™ High-Flex Knee implant specifically for women. The implant, approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005, helps women patients in three ways:

1. Thinner profile. The bone in the front of a woman’s knee is typically less prominent than in a man’s. Traditional implants have a thickness in front that may end up feeling bulky, which may result in pain and decreased range of motion. The Gender Solutions knee has a thinner profile to accommodate this anatomical difference.

2. More natural movement. The angle between the hip and the knee affects how the kneecap moves over the thighbone when the knee is in motion. Many women have a different angle between the hip and the knee than most men. The Gender Solutions knee accounts for this difference, allowing for more natural movement.

3. Contoured shape. The Gender Solutions knee has a contoured shape to more closely match the narrower anatomy of a woman’s knee. This contouring provides a more precise fit and may prevent the implant from overhanging the bone and potentially pressing on or damaging surrounding ligaments and tendons.

Consult an orthopedic surgeon if you’re considering knee replacement surgery.