| Hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium are now more than | | | | matter of personal preference as all coatings are |
| ever used as coatings for joint replacement implants | | | | successfully used by clinicians around the world. |
| and dental implants. HA and titanium promote bone | | | | Although, hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings can help |
| ingrowth between the joint implant and the patient's | | | | jump start the integration process in dental implants, |
| bone itself. This ingrowth allows for a sturdier implant | | | | reducing recovery time. As a result, dental implants |
| that precipitates less pain and recovery time when | | | | coated with hydroxyapatite are becoming an |
| compared to traditional implants that contain cement. | | | | increasingly popular choice when placing an implant. |
| What follows is a list of the most common types of | | | | L-Vertebrae: Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD) is one |
| implants for which HA and titanium are used as | | | | of the most common causes of lower back pain in |
| implant coatings and the benefits that these coatings | | | | adults. Many patients discover relief from pain caused |
| specifically provide for each implant. | | | | by DDD by pursuing nonsurgical methods such as |
| Finger: | | | | therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and weight |
| Joint replacement is recognized as a treatment option | | | | loss. For patients who don't experience adequate pain |
| for large joints which have been severely damaged | | | | relief through nonsurgical treatments, lumbar fusion |
| by arthritis. Most people are unaware that when small | | | | has long been a common surgical treatment for |
| joints such as those found in fingers become painful, | | | | alleviating lower back pain. While lumbar fusion can be |
| deformed and/or limited, relief can come by replacing | | | | an effective treatment, it severely restricts motion |
| the joints with titanium and hydroxyapatite coated | | | | and it does not always provide pain relief. Porous |
| implants. Since full function is not restored, finger | | | | titanium coatings have allowed many medical device |
| implant surgery is not considered the first choice of | | | | manufacturers to develop new, FDA approved |
| treatment, but for those who do make the choice, | | | | artificial disk replacement options. Artificial disks can |
| the reduction of pain due to arthritis is often | | | | reduce lower back pain while also allowing the patient |
| significant. The surgery is most valuable for patients | | | | to retain spinal motion. Disks coated in titanium |
| who will regain function and who will benefit greatly | | | | become firmly fixed in bone just weeks after the |
| from achievable pain relief. | | | | operation and typically allow for reduced pain and |
| Ankle: | | | | greater range of motion. |
| Total ankle replacement is an option for patients with | | | | Elbow: Until recently, patients in need of implant |
| severe arthritis. Similar to hip and knee replacement | | | | surgery to relieve the pain that comes along with |
| surgeries, total ankle replacement involves removing | | | | elbow arthritis received elbow prostheses that |
| the arthritic ankle joint and replacing it with an implant. | | | | require cement for bone fixation. In fact, despite the |
| Total ankle replacement was developed in the 1970's | | | | increased use of hydroxyapatite and titanium as |
| with limited success. The older implants often | | | | implant coatings, cement implants are still fairly |
| loosened or malfunctioned and frequently needed to | | | | common. Hydroxyapatite coatings achieve greater |
| be removed. Today, manufacturers have developed | | | | bone ingrowth than do cement implants. Increased |
| a porous titanium implant coating that has made ankle | | | | bone ingrowth makes for a more durable implant that |
| replacement surgery a more viable option. Typically, | | | | allows for increased range of motion and less pain. |
| the implant consists of two titanium end plates with a | | | | Shoulder: Arthritis of the shoulder joint causes |
| refined polyethylene center. When the end plates are | | | | damage to bone and cartilage. If left untreated, the |
| coated with titanium or hydroxyapatite, the coating | | | | damage can cause a great deal of pain. Shoulder |
| allows the implant to mimic the motion of a natural | | | | implant coatings are currently made of a variety of |
| ankle. Prior to total ankle replacement surgery, the | | | | materials, including titanium, cobalt chrome, ceramics |
| only surgical option for patients with disabling arthritis | | | | and pyrocarbons. Pyrocarbon is a very lightweight |
| was fusion, which completely restricts the patient's | | | | material that is preferable to traditional steel coatings |
| ankle motion. | | | | which are heavy and bulky. Implants coated with |
| Hip | | | | titanium are lightweight and have a similar consistency |
| Total hip joint replacement is an orthopaedic success | | | | to that of bone. Shoulder implants coated with |
| story, enabling hundreds of thousands of people to | | | | advanced materials exhibit exceptional bone ingrowth |
| live fuller, more active lives. Using metal alloys, | | | | qualities which gives the implant superb strength and |
| high-grade plastics, and polymeric materials, | | | | the patient increased range of motion. |
| orthopaedic surgeons can replace painful, | | | | Knee: Recent advancements in titanium coating |
| dysfunctional joints with highly functional, long-lasting | | | | characteristics have allowed medical manufacturers to |
| prostheses. Hydroxyapatite and titanium coatings | | | | develop knee implants that exhibit superior bone |
| allow for cement-less implants and promote bone | | | | ingrowth to traditional implants. It is the porosity of |
| ingrowth between implant and human bone. Today, | | | | titanium that allows for bone ingrowth and thus |
| the top performing designs all have porous titanium | | | | makes it ideal for knee replacement implants. |
| and hydroxyapatite surfaces that make for stronger | | | | Improved bone ingrowth reduces recovery time and |
| implants and shorter recovery times. | | | | increases range of motion in knee replacement |
| Dental: | | | | patients. |
| Dental implants are available uncoated, with a titanium | | | | Hydroxyapatite and titanium implant coatings have |
| plasma sprayed (TPS) coating and with a | | | | made joint implant surgery a more viable, less painful |
| hydroxyapatite coating. The choice of coating is a | | | | option for many people suffering from joint pain. |