Wright Medical announces launch of stature-specific TKA femoral components

Wright Medical Group has launched a new line of femoral components for use with its Advance Knee System, the company announced in a press release.

The new Advance Stature Femoral Components boast a tapered design intended to address implant sizing needs of patients with more narrow knee anatomies or smaller skeletal frames, according to the release.

Zimmer received FDA clearance last year for its Gender Solutions High-Flex knee prosthesis, which is designed specifically for a woman's anatomy. Other manufacturers, including Biomet, DePuy and Stryker, have also emphasized that their current TKA products are designed to account for women's unique anatomical needs.

This trend was highlighted in point/counterpoint articles by Robert E. Booth Jr., MD, and Merrill A. Ritter, MD, published in the March issue of Orthopedics Today. (Booth: "Gender-sensitive knee design: not size;" Ritter: "Implant size does not affect clinical outcomes.")

Although women generally are smaller than men and frequently require smaller implants, patients of either gender may possess a physical stature that could benefit from a narrower implant design, according to the release. "For this reason, the Advance Stature femoral components provide distinct sizing advantages for [men] or [women] who require more customized sizing," the release said.

The Advance Stature components feature a reduced width and contoured anterior flange to optimize patellar tracking. The components are compatible with Wright Medical's Advance Double-High and Medial-Pivot tibial inserts. The Advance tibial inserts also feature a ball-in-socket mechanism designed to replicate the stability of a natural knee and provide more natural motion, according to the release.

For more information:
Wright Medical Group Inc.; Web site: www.wmt.com.