Continuing to lead in surgical innovation, specialists at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute recently performed the nation’s first gold total knee arthroplasty with the unique OpulentTM Total Knee System. Widely used in India and Europe, this state-of-the-art titanium knee implant received FDA approval in fall 2022.
Mark Munro, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, implanted the first total gold knee in the United States in October 2022. Unlike other devices, this option features a brilliant gold coating of titanium niobium nitride (TiNbN) that completely encases its entire femoral and tibial components.
An expert in minimally invasive surgeries, Dr. Munro lectures internationally on knee and hip replacement, and partners with physicians and hospitals abroad teaching surgical techniques and performing live procedures. He was introduced to the novel gold knee system in India, where he subsequently implanted the device during multiple surgeries prior to its FDA approval in the U.S.
“We continue to explore new surfaces for the knee in our ongoing effort to find what best benefits our patients,” says Dr. Munro, who has surgically implanted 10 of the devices this year. “The total gold knee looks completely different and offers several advancements over more traditional implants. It’s so novel that doctors want to come by and see the surgery, and patients are requesting it.”
A distinct benefit of the implant is its unique total coverage, which decreases the debris created by articulating components and prevents metal ion release into the bloodstream post-surgery. Traditional knee implants made of a chromium/cobalt alloy can release metal ions, resulting in allergic reactions, knee pain and swelling.
“The focus is on having safer products,” says Dr. Munro. “The non-allergic surface material of this device is more immune friendly. It creates a barrier so metal ion release is almost undetectable, making this a good choice for many patients.”
Opulent’s low-friction articulation also results in a longer-lasting knee with less postoperative inflammation and loosening. Additional device benefits include:
- Better biocompatibility
- Higher wettability with synovial fluids
- Extreme adhesive strength
- Improved abrasion resistance
- Significant hardness eight times greater than cobalt chromium implants
Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute will open a new 195,000-square-foot inpatient facility this summer, making it a premier clinical destination for high-quality, multidisciplinary orthopedic care under one roof.
To refer a patient, use EpicCare link or call (321) 843-5851.
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