Sait! rane te will lake eon dh sale mext e' buch nd th wu pa hes, Fl this \ndicted aL i ad. st the wan Aer aver ne is ade mach “an hoeofl Porial: bditia Gee, a wit Lal sale “Hoo! apt li ice on th Wedgesd af the DA, ‘Wars trae named: ‘388, Mi ie af ne wi!shi Hs, an h sme bj or ef G, aeaght! ” AewaE ‘ se the “the aucth ATL apy Danger<8 ahis UNE is hak letaehid' * Knee Replacement Implant Offers More Flexibility (NAPSA)—Approximately twenty-one million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that often follows a history of injury or overuse of a joint. Deterioration of the articular cartilage in the knees, often the result of osteoarthritis, causes bone to rub against bone. This friction causes symptoms such as a feeling of stiffness, moderate to severe discomfort, debilitating pain and eventual loss of motion. In some cases, total knee replacement is necessary. Approximately 266,000 total knee replacements are performed each year and that number is increasing, according to the American Academy Orthopaedic Surgeons. of “Patients today are expecting to maintain an active lifestyle after total knee replacement,” said Giles R. Scuderi, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at New York’s Insall Scott Kelly Institute. Technology is now available that offers a higher range of motion, or bending of the knee, for patients with the ability and desire to perform high flexion activities. Scuderi continues, “The LPSFlex Fixed Knee from Zimmer Inc., offers a new option for those suffering from osteoarthritis to reclaim aspects of their lives on which they place muchvalue.” The implant is the first one specifically designed to safely accommodate deep flexion of up to 155 degrees. Generally, knee implants were designed to accommodate flexion up to 125 degrees. Hobbies such as gardening and golfing require high degrees of flexion of the knee. In addition, cultural activities such as kneeling for prayer, sitting crosslegged and squatting demand frequent high flexion. Many daily activities require this range of motion as well, such as climbing stairs, sitting in a chair and NexGen Complete Knee Solution LPS-Flex Fixed aring Knee @ With today’s knee replacement options, people with osteoarthritis may find it easier to resume activities they enjoy. standing up again. The sooner patients report their symptoms to doctors, the sooner treatment options can be discussed. “The key to effectively treating knee problemsis early diagnosis,” said Scuderi. “With early diagnosis and good preoperative flexibility, the Flex Fixed Knee can allow patients to resume manyof the physical activities they have come to enjoy.” Studies show that total knee replacement patients with good preoperative flexibility are more likely to maintain thatflexibility. Whether the knee is suitable for an individual patient is based on a numberof considerations. “Such considerations include the person’s activity level, weight, bone quality andif the arthritis is advanced enoughfor this treatment,” said Michael A. Kelly, M.D., a founding orthopedic surgeon of the Insall Scott Kelly Institute, which helped to develop the knee replacement. For more information on the LPS-Flex Fixed Knee, call the toll free hotline at 1-877-866-FLEX or visit www.Pacewithlife.com.
