INTRODUCING THE VERASENSE KNEE SYSTEM

INTRODUCING THE VERASENSE KNEE SYSTEM

CONSIDERING KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY? Congratulations! Learning about knee replacement and the new technologies available for a more precise and intelligent surgery is one of the smartest things you can do to make an informed decision about your healthcare and your quality of life. Each patient is unique, but those patients who are good candidates for knee replacement surgeries often have: Pain that is debilitating enough to restrict work, recreation and/or routine activities of daily living Pain that is not relieved by more conservative treatment methods such as physical therapy, medication or reduced activity Joint stiffness and loss of mobility X-rays that show advanced arthritis or other joint degeneration Knee replacement surgery has been shown to be a safe and cost-effective treatment for alleviating pain and restoring function for patients who have not responded to non-surgical therapies.1 For these patients, knee replacement surgery generally results in significant restoration of function and reduction of pain.2 While deciding to undergo knee replacement is a big decision, after surgery many patients say they wish they hadn t waited so long to have it done. 1 National 2 AAOS Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement: Total Knee Replacement 12/10/03. website, http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00385, accessed April 2011

GET TO KNOW YOUR KNEE As the largest joint in the human body, the knee is central to almost every movement we make. A healthy knee is able to comfortably bend, flex, rotate and glide, allowing for normal, pain-free motion. However, as we age arthritis and injury can bring about aches and pains that may keep you from enjoying your normal pastimes or interrupt your daily activities and even sleep. If your knees ache, you re not alone. More than 46 million Americans suffer from arthritis and more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the U.S. alone. Three bones make up the knee joint: the lower end of the thighbone (femur), the shinbone (tibia) and the kneecap (patella). Tissue bands called ligaments connect the bones and stabilize the joint. A smooth, plastic-like lining called cartilage covers the end of the bones and prevents them from rubbing against each other, allowing for flexible and nearly frictionless movement. Cartilage also serves as a shock absorber, cushioning the bones from forces. Finally, synovium lines the joint and produces a lubricating fluid that reduces friction and wear. OVER 46 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFER FROM ARTHRITIS MORE THAN 600,000 KNEE REPLACEMENTS ARE PERFORMED EVERY YEAR IN THE US ALONE BLAME IT ON ARTHRITIS THE LEADING CAUSE OF KNEE PAIN One of the most common causes of knee pain and loss of mobility is the wearing away of the joint s cartilage lining. When this happens, the bones rub against each other causing pain and swelling a condition known as osteoarthritis. The cartilage in the knee does not always wear out at the same rate. Often, the inner half of the knee joint wears out faster than the outer part, causing your leg to become bowed or varus. This deterioration can happen rapidly or it can take years to develop. Over time, the ligaments on the inside of the knee shorten and the ones on the outside stretch to accommodate the new bowed position of the leg. The opposite can happen as well, where the outer cartilage wears out faster than the inner cartilage, creating a knock-kneed or valgus alignment of your leg. When restoring your damaged knee joint, your surgeon has to pay very careful attention to these ligaments that have either stretched or shortened during the course of your arthritis. If your ligaments are not adjusted appropriately to your new artificial joint, you could end up with an unstable knee and have difficulty with a lot of the same activities that you had pain with prior to surgery, such as walking, getting up from a seated position and stair climbing to name a few.

NEW TECHNOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE: SENSOR -ASSISTED KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY SIMPLIFYING SOFT TISSUE BALANCE VERASENSE for Biomet Vanguard Complete Knee System VERASENSE for Stryker Triathlon Knee System VERASENSE for Zimmer NexGen Knee System Knee replacement is a surgical procedure that has been performed in the U.S. since the 1960s. It involves replacing the diseased or damaged portion of the joint with an artificial implant. Since the first knee replacement procedures, surgical techniques, implants and instrumentation have undergone significant improvements leading to a longer lasting artificial joint with improved restoration of function. Studies show that current knee replacement implants work well with many successful knee replacements lasting 15 or more years. Of course, a good surgery is only as good as the rehabilitation and the effort that you put in after surgery to regain muscle strength and motion. To ensure a successful outcome, three major factors are important during surgery: 1 2 3 Soft Tissue Balance Proper Implant Position Leg Alignment Previously, surgeons had to rely on their experience and feel only to judge these factors. UNTIL NOW... The OrthoSensor VERASENSE Knee System provides surgeons with immediate feedback intra-operatively on knee ligament balance, implant position and leg alignment. This innovative new technology is made possible through the VERASENSE Knee Sensor, a proprietary introperative sensor that utilizes technologies similar to those developed for use in smart phones and gaming applications. This sensor is at the core of the system, helping the surgeon make evidence-based decisions to optimize the position and balance of the knee implant through a full range of motion.

KNEE REPLACEMENT WITH THE VERASENSE KNEE SYSTEM The VERASENSE Knee System was developed with one goal: To help surgeons with a difficult, yet extremely important, step of knee replacement surgery. The VERASENSE Knee System does not change how a surgeon performs surgery. It does not influence your surgeon s decision of what type of implant design is best for you. It does, however, allow them to quantify pressures and angles in your knee with the goal of enabling a more successful outcome for your total knee replacement. Severe knee pain can limit your daily activities and negatively impact your quality of life. If you haven t found adequate relief with activity modification, medication or other conservative treatments, joint replacement may be right ASK YOUR DOCTOR for you. It can restore your motion, leg alignment and provide the pain relief to let you return to your favorite activities and allow you to live life to the fullest. IF KNEE REPLACEMENT MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU

A SMARTER KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

For more information about the VERASENSE Knee System, visit www.orthosensor.com/patients. OrthoSensor, Inc. Tel 888.75.ORTHO (888.756.7846) www.orthosensor.com